2004 Michel-Schlumberger "Deux Terres" Dry Creek Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

One 750ml bottle

Vintage 2004 started with an early, warm spring followed by a mild mid-summer. This set up the vines with large canopies and balanced crop loads (although yields were a little lighter than “normal”). The ripening season was slow and warm, until late season heat came through and accelerated sugar accumulation. We were fortunate in the fact that our fruit retained balanced acid/pH levels. Musts were high in color and flavors were dense. This carried through to the finished wine…glorious.  
 
Michel-Schlumberer's prized close-spaced (meter x meter) vines make up a large part of this particular blend along with some clone 6 Cabernet Sauvignon from their Bradford Mt. property. There is a bit of merlot in the blend along with a dollop of Malbec. All of these varietals are estate grown and organically farmed with limited production Cabernet Sauvignon in mind. Traditional barrel aging for 26 months have assisted this wine in its evolution.  
 
With classic raspberry and cherry undertones on the nose, the wine may mislead some to think it’s a lighter bodied Cabernet Sauvignon. Not the case. This wine has all the attributes of a classic. There are beautiful, subtle aromas of allspice and dried cherries on the nose along with the ever present cranberry and cassis combo that we’ve termed “Schlumberberry.” The mid-palate is clean and long with enough grip on the end to suggest proper Cabernet Sauvignon longevity. 

Allspice, dried cherries, cranberry and cassis