The fruit for our 1998 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the Scharf Vineyard in the famed Dry Creek Valley. This vineyard is a prime example of the quality of fruit produced in this appellation, well known for its hearty, full bodied red wines. The Scharf Vineyard fruit is characterized by forward flavors classic to the Cabernet varietal- rich layers of berries and black cherries intertwined with plum, cassis and spice. To preserve these characteristics as the fruit changes from juice to wine, Winemaker Michael Loykasek does gentle pumpovers several times daily during fermentation to fully extract color and flavor. Aging in French and American oak barrels adds the flavors inherent to each type- the soft vanilla and oak of the French barrels combining with the spicy textures of the American oak to create another level of depth to our Cabernet.