Simi Landslide Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon 2001

Number 9 on Wine Enthusiast's Top 100 Wines of 2004!

"This fabulously complex wine shows how you can merge power and nuance with the most complex and satisfying results. Cherries, dried herbs, vanilla and toasty oak, with ripe, lush tannins and great balance. Shows an exciting finesse throughout. Hard to exaggerate the quality. A perfect companion to the table."
-Wine Enthusiast

The 2001 vintage represents the second release of our vineyard-designated Cabernet Sauvignon from the Simi Landslide Vineyard in southern Alexander Valley. The Landslide Vineyard -- a 170-acre vineyard divided by forces of nature into three distinct sections -- produces wines that reflect the extraordinary diversity of the vineyard and its dramatic geologic history.

The Landslide Vineyard is comprised of numerous soil types and microclimates created by an ancient volcanic landslide from nearby Mount St. Helena. These soil changes, combined with the pronounced diverse topography, results in variable bud break, flowering, veraison and harvest times in the different vineyard blocks.

Along with the complexity created by the different soil types and topography, we have planted a diverse selection of varieties and clones. Besides the nine different clones of Cabernet Sauvignon, we have planted Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petite Verdot and Malbec, the "big five" classic varieties from Bordeaux.

These unique and diverse conditions yield wines that reflect their individual terroir, block by block. This allows the winemaker to create a complex blend from a single vineyard.