Rudd Proprietary Red Jericho Canyon Vineyard 2000

Jericho Canyon Vineyard is located on the eastern slope of the Vaca Mountains at the northern end of Napa Valley. This boxed canyon is home to twelve blocks of steeply terraced Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. While northern Napa is known for its summer heat, a gap in the Mayacamas Range allows cooling winds to create temperatures at this vineyard similar to those found at Rudd's estate vineyard in Oakville. In 2000, the hillside plantings and temperate climate produced a wine of great elegance and finesse.

Harvest 2000 followed ideally mild summer temperatures, allowing for extended hang time that allowed mature tannins to develop in all three varietals. As with the previous vintage, the grapes were hand-selected during a five-week period beginning September 25 and ending with the last selection of Cabernet Sauvignon on the 3rd of November. As a result, the wine exhibits powerful, ripe tannins balanced with concentrated dark fruit flavors and complex aromatics and an integrated yet persistent finish. After eighteen months of barrel aging, the wine was bottled without fining our filtration in early June 2002.