2007 Alexander Valley Estate Cabernet Sauvignon
Proprietor Fritz Stuhlmuller
Winemakers Leo Hansen

Stuhlmuller Vineyards is located at the southern edge of the Alexander Valley, where it converges with two other highly regarded Sonoma County appellations, Chalk Hill and the Russian River Valley. On its eastern edge, the 150-acre vineyard borders the Russian River. Situated in a location that is part river benchlands and part hillside, the vineyard benefits from its alluvial gravel soils and the more rocky soils of the hillside sections.

The fruit for this Cabernet Sauvignon emphasizes three clones, grown on three separate blocks. From the river benchland we use a block of Clone 337 for its fruit-forward black cherry flavors. On an adjacent block, planted over 20 years ago, we grow a field selection from the Belle Terre Vineyard, which produces grapes with tannic concentration and blue fruit notes. And lastly, from a terraced hillside block we use Clone 7 fruit, which adds floral layers and classic Cabernet cassis and cherry elements.

The 2007 growing season offered a nice warm spring, and two early-season heat spikes that set the stage for a relatively relaxed harvest, with Cabernet coming in the first two weeks of October. This pace, which allowed us to pick at will, combined with low yields and ideal late-season weather produced fruit with excellent concentration and purity.

Grapes were picked by block, and clusters were gently destemmed. We used a mix of open-top tanks with manual punching-down of the cap, and closed-top tanks where the must was pumped over. The closed-top tanks added to palate texture, while the open-top tanks helped to retain fruit intensity. The finished wine, composed almost entirely of free-run juice, was racked to 46 percent new French oak barrels and underwent native malolactic fermentation. Each block was fermented and aged separately for 10 months before blending, with barrel aging for a total of 18 months.

This wine displays seductive aromas of black cherry, blackberry, sweet black licorice, cinnamon and a hint of pipe tobacco. The palate is juicy and mouthfilling with plush layers of crème de cassis, blackberry, black tea and earth, supported by firm, ripe tannins and a lively acidity.