Our 2008 Surround Cabernet Sauvignon is a blend of lots from our Estate vineyards (Stone Edge Farm and Mount Pisgah), the Coco Bean Vineyard in the eastern foothills of Sonoma, and the Moon Mountain Vineyard high in the Mayacamas Mountains. All of the vineyards are farmed organically by Phil Coturri and meticulously groomed to produce small crops of intensely flavored grapes.
2008 was another year of low winter rainfall and almost no rain in the spring. Fortunately, our vineyard sites experienced bud break after the frosts that crippled so many vineyards in the area, and were unaffected by the freezing temperatures. The summer growing season was moderate with no major heat spikes. The low soil moisture led to small berry size which contributes to dark, intense red wines. Our late season vineyards withstood the early September heat wave, and ripened to their full potential by the middle of October.
The 2008 Surround Cabernet Sauvignon has forward aromas of black cherry and chocolate. The color is an opulent deep red, hinting at the lush, full-bodied flavor and long finish.
Blend: 93% Cabernet Sauvignon, 6% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc
Vineyard Source (certified organic):
Stone Edge Farm Vineyard
Mount Pisgah Vineyard
Coco Bean Vineyard
Moon Mountain Vineyard
Harvest: October 10–October 24
Cooperage: 24 months in tight-grained, 225-liter French oak barrels, 50% new
Filtration/Fining: Unfined, light filtration at bottling
Average Crop Level: 1.7 – 2.5 tons per acre
Chemistry: TA = 6.3 g/l, pH = 3.77, Alcohol = 14.2%
Cases Produced: 1015
Aging Potential (recommended): Enjoyable at 4 to 6 years from harvest; optimal balance of fruit and complexity at 12 to 15 years
Fermentation: Grapes were hand-harvested and the clusters sorted before entering the Delta destemmer. The destemmed berries were again sorted on their way to our one-ton fermenters. Fermentations were initiated after two days of cold soaking. Punchdowns were performed by hand two to four times per day, and the fermenters pressed at dryness in a Carlsen basket press.