Our 2006 Bench Blend Cabernet Sauvignon displays opulent red and black fruit aromas and flavors with notes of ripe cherry, brown spice, and sweet vanilla. The soft, plush mouthfeel, intense fruit and silky tannins evolve into a long, impressive fruit-focused finish. This wine has the fruit intensity and structure to improve through years of aging, although its smoothness and approachability make it rewarding to enjoy now.

The Napa Valley Viticultural Area is renowned for its long growing season marked by sunny, warm and dry days and followed by cool evenings. These growing conditions are ideal for allowing grapes to ripen slowly and evenly. Despite inclement weather conditions, the 2006 harvest was marked as an exceptional vintage. Winter began with extreme rainfall causing flooding in much of Napa Valley. The rain continued into early spring and the cool, wet weather delayed bud break by a few weeks. However, the sun came out in early June allowing the vines to bloom and set fruit. A 10 day streak of record heat in July helped catch the vines up to a “normal” place in the growing season. The return of cooler weather in fall allowed for moderately paced and deliberate ripening which was ideal for developing premium grapes with good complexity, acid and flavor.

The Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were selected from the finest vineyard blocks and were hand harvested from October 15th to November 1st and were destemmed and crushed prior to fermentation in upright, closed top fermentors. The must fermented at a maximum temperature of 85°F and received 30 days of skin contact. Following pressing, malolactic fermentation on skins was completed in tank. Final evaluation and blending of the individual lots occurred just prior to bottling.

SHIPPING ADVISORY: We strongly encourage Express or Climate Controlled shipping to protect your wine purchases. UPS and Fed Ex do not insure against damage caused by weather. Climate control uses a refridgerated truck for transportation from Napa Valley to to a regional hub and then is handed to the carrier for 1 - 2 day delivery. Trucks leave once a week, hence the longer delivery time. Please call 888-909-9463 with questions.