knights valley cabernet sauvignon - …€¦ · knights valley cabernet sauvignon beringer...

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SOURCING Knights Valley VARIETAL COMPOSITION 87% Cabernet Sauvignon 4% Petit Verdot 4% Merlot 3% Cabernet Franc 1% Petite Sirah 1% Malbec VINIFICATION Vineyard lots harvested and vinified separately. Aged 14 months in (23% new) French oak ANALYSIS Alc: 14.1% TA: 5.8 g/L pH: 3.71 BERINGER VINEYARDS • 2000 MAIN ST., ST. HELENA, CA, 94574 • 707.967.4412 • BERINGER.COM 2013 KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON Beringer Vineyards has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960’s, when the Beringer family recognized that the cobbled alluvial soils were a great place to grow high quality wine grapes. The Knights Valley designation was first used on a Beringer label in 1974. Beringer was instrumental in garnering official recognition for the area in 1983 as a premier wine growing region in the form of its own American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation. VINTAGE & VINEYARDS The 2013 vintage began with a warm, dry spring and relatively early bud break. Summer was notably consistent with even, warm temperatures throughout. Knights Valley often sees greater fluctuation in temperature than Napa Valley, with intensely warm days that cool off dramatically in the evening. The 2013 growing season was very even throughout, and continued well into October, allowing for excellent ripeness, phenolic and flavor development in the grapes. Overall, it was a high quality crop that was above average in quantity. Located 17 miles northwest of the winery, Knights Valley vineyard is approximately 600 acres, and has rocky, well-drained soils that are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Grapes for the 2012 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested between September 16th and October 22nd. WINEMAKING To maintain the unique characteristics of the different lots from varying areas of the vineyard, Chief Winemaker Laurie Hook monitored each of the lots carefully through vinification and aging. Extended maceration created larger tannins to enhance the lush mouthfeel of the blend and extracted a maximum of color, aromas and flavors. The wines were then aged in small French Nevers oak barrels (23% new) for 14 months and underwent malolactic fermentation for further development of texture and mouthfeel. Laurie blended in a portion of Cabernet Franc for aromatics and length in the finish and a touch of Merlot to add texture and plush tannins. LAURIE’S TASTING NOTES The 2013 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of ripe black fruit, mocha, dried herbs and licorice. Opulent but structured, this versatile wine has supple blue and black fruit notes accented by dark chocolate, roasted coffee and a silky, lingering finish.

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Page 1: KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON - …€¦ · KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON Beringer Vineyards has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960’s,

S O U R C I N G

Knights Valley

V A R I E T A L C O M P O S I T I O N

87% Cabernet Sauvignon

4% Petit Verdot

4% Merlot

3% Cabernet Franc

1% Petite Sirah

1% Malbec

V I N I F I C A T I O N

Vineyard lots harvested and

vinified separately. Aged 14

months in (23% new) French oak

A N A L Y S I S

Alc: 14.1% TA: 5.8 g/L pH: 3.71

B E R I N G E R V I N E Y A R D S • 2 0 0 0 M A I N S T . , S T . H E L E N A , C A , 9 4 5 7 4 • 7 0 7 . 9 6 7 . 4 4 1 2 • B E R I N G E R . C O M

201 3KNIGHTS VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON

Beringer Vineyards has owned and farmed its Knights Valley vineyards since the mid-1960’s, when the Beringer family recognized that the cobbled alluvial soils were a great place to grow high quality wine grapes. The Knights Valley designation was first used on a Beringer label in 1974. Beringer was instrumental in garnering official recognition for the area in 1983 as a premier wine growing region in the form of its own American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation.

V I N T A G E & V I N E Y A R D S

The 2013 vintage began with a warm, dry spring and relatively early bud break. Summer was notably consistent with even, warm temperatures throughout. Knights Valley often sees greater fluctuation in temperature than Napa Valley, with intensely warm days that cool off dramatically in the evening. The 2013 growing season was very even throughout, and continued well into October, allowing for excellent ripeness, phenolic and flavor development in the grapes. Overall, it was a high quality crop that was above average in quantity.Located 17 miles northwest of the winery, Knights Valley vineyard is approximately 600 acres, and has rocky, well-drained soils that are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot. Grapes for the 2012 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon were harvested between September 16th and October 22nd.

W I N E M A K I N G

To maintain the unique characteristics of the different lots from varying areas of the vineyard, Chief Winemaker Laurie Hook monitored each of the lots carefully through vinification and aging. Extended maceration created larger tannins to enhance the lush mouthfeel of the blend and extracted a maximum of color, aromas and flavors. The wines were then aged in small French Nevers oak barrels (23% new) for 14 months and underwent malolactic fermentation for further development of texture and mouthfeel.Laurie blended in a portion of Cabernet Franc for aromatics and length in the finish and a touch of Merlot to add texture and plush tannins.

L A U R I E ’ S T A S T I N G N O T E S

The 2013 Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon has aromas of ripe black fruit, mocha, dried herbs and licorice. Opulent but structured, this versatile wine has supple blue and black fruit notes accented by dark chocolate, roasted coffee and a silky, lingering finish.