Cain Five 1999

As always, we compose the blend following three essential desiderata: Complexity, Balance, and Persistence. Moderate yields, moderate temperatures, and complete but slow ripening gave us wines with depth, concentration, and a solid core of dense, age worthy tannins. These are the hallmarks of mountain fruit: 65 percent of this wine was grown on Spring Mountain; about one-third of this vintage was grown in our estate vineyard. These wines allowed us to create a Cain Five that is balanced and flowing, with a firm beginning, middle, and end. The nose is subtle and complex: notes of cedar, blackberries, and roasted nuts draw one into the glass, where a sweet entry awaits. Weight on the palate suggests constrained intensity, which leads to a well-defined finish that seems to be just waiting to blossom in the years to come.