Winemaker Notes
The 2004 Vintage marks the 30th release of Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon from Kenwood. The harvest produced Cabernet Sauvignon with a distinctly rich and ripe flavor that is followed by spicy and aromatic notes that add complexity. After picking, the grapes were crushed and fermented in stainless steel tanks and then settled and racked twice before going down to barrels in December of 2004. After 30 months of barrel aging the best lots were carefully selected and then blended and bottled. After bottling, the wine was aged for an additional year and a half before it was released.
Each year since the 1975 vintage our winemakers taste individual barrels of our finest lots of Cabernet Sauvignon at the end of aging and select only the best to become part of the Artist Series blend. The result is a flavorful and intense that represents less than 2% of our Cabernet production.
About the Artist
Artist Shepard Fairey began crafting his approach while he was still a student at The Rhode Island School of Design. Fairey believes that art is not only intended for museums and galleries, but should also be an integral part of the visual landscape. His work exemplifies bold, graphic media that stands out amid the urban clutter,
beautifying the environment while stimulating the public to think critically. He is one of today's best-known and most influential street artists. The "Peace Woman" is a symbolic representation of the peaceful, nurturing side of humanity. Fairey feels that the female trait of empathy should be embraced to maintain a balanced society.
Professional Ratings
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Wine Spectator
Rich and spicy, intense and concentrated, with full-bodied currant, cedar, blackberry and black licorice fruit that's impeccably balanced and well-structured, offering firm tannins and vibrant acidity. Excellent length. Drink now through 2015.
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Wine Enthusiast
With this wine, Kenwood is seriously poaching on Napa Valley cult Cab territory. Shows powerful, intense chocolate, blackberry pie filling and smoky new oak flavors wrapped into soft but complex tannins. Yes, the alcohol is high, but the wine is dry and frankly delicious.
While Sonoma County is acclaimed—and rightfully so—for its Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs, and Zinfandels, it also produces exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon. Of the region’s 18 American Viticultural Areas, only a handful produce top-notch Cabernet Sauvignon. These appellations include Alexander Valley, Knights Valley, Sonoma Valley and Dry Creek Valley. Sonoma Cabernet Sauvignons made in these appellations can offer a complex array of aromas and flavors. Fruit notes such as blackberry, blackcurrant, cassis, black cherry and raspberry often are accompanied by hints of graphite, dusty earth, cigar box, toast and vanilla. The varietal has a rich history in Sonoma, and some of these Cabernet Sauvignons and Cabernet-based blends rival the best from Napa Valley.