Titus

2004 Titus Napa Valley Cabernet Franc

As a Library Selection, this wine is available exclusively to members of Titus Vineyards Wine Club.

Vintage

Demonstrating many similarities to the 1997 vintage, the 2004 growing season began with normal rainfall followed by an early, pleasantly warm Spring marked by timely bud-break and bloom. The first signs of veraison appeared several weeks ahead of schedule in the first few days of July. Cooler summer temperatures allowed for steady, even ripening of the moderately sized crop. A few days of hot, windy weather in August lent a final touch of richness and concentration to the fruit.

Vineyard

Our family vineyard is located on 40 acres of Napa Valley floor just north of St. Helena on the Silverado Trail. It has well-drained, sandy, alluvial soils and is characterized by its ability to produce complex wines with well-defined fruit flavors, gentle acids and naturally balanced tannins. The vines benefit from their very even east-west exposure resulting in even ripening each year.

Vinification

The grapes were harvested in late September where they were promptly de-stemmed but not crushed, allowing increased control over tannin extraction by minimizing the possibility of broken skins and split seeds. After a 48-hour cold soak to extract color and flavor, the grapes were fermented for 10 days, with pump-overs occurring twice daily. The free-run was transferred to new and two-year-old French oak barrels where it underwent malolactic fermentation, then barrel aging for 14 months.

Wine Profile

Vintage after vintage our Cabernet Franc balances lush notes of blue and black fruit against delicate hints of tea leaf and smoke in a velvety mouthful of wine. Our 2004 Cabernet Franc is complex, with bright intensity, round chewy tannins and a lengthy finish.  Rich aromas of blueberry, pomegranate and linden flower are complemented by secondary characters of black olive, cedar and vanilla. In the mouth, straightforward flavors of ripe strawberry and boysenberry are joined mid-palate by hints of smoky Earl Gray tea, black olive and violets that linger through the long finish.

Detailed Wine Information