> 2006 Titus Napa Valley Cabernet Franc
2006 Titus Napa Valley Cabernet Franc |
 VintageOverall, the 2006 growing season was long and steady with the exception of a cool spring with late rains and a heat spike in July. All the grapes were harvested in alignment with our predictions avoiding everything coming in at once. Interestingly, harvest at Titus Vineyards began ten days later than we would typically end allowing the grapes to benefit from the extended hang time resulting in optimum ripeness without the threat of bad weather. The lengthy 2006 growing season gifted these wines with lively aromatics, well balanced flavor profiles with beautiful concentration, and solid structure that will benefit the wines long term.VineyardOur 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.VinificationThe grapes were harvested in late October where they were promptly de-stemmed but not crushed, which allowed for increased control over tannin extraction by minimizing the possibility of broken skins and split seeds. After a 48-hour cold soak to extract optimum color and flavor, the grapes were fermented for ten days with pump-overs occurring twice daily. The free-run juice was then transferred to new and two-year-old French oak barrels where it underwent malolactic fermentation, followed by twenty months of barrel aging.Wine ProfileOur 2006 Napa Valley Cabernet Franc is engaging and complex, with impressive structure and balance. It is a wine that reveals something more each time you return for a smell or taste. Dark fruit aromas of black cherry and black raspberry intermingle with fresh, crushed herbs, violets, smoked tea leaf and truffle. The mouth feel is both bold and elegant. The well integrated tannins somehow exude powdered baking chocolate and cloak notes of blackberry and boysenberry. Rich blueberry pie balances tastes of toffee, oak spice, and sweet red peppers. The long, velvety finish reveals hints of violets, dark chocolate, and anise. Recommended drinking time is three to four years from vintage, maximum suggested aging is nine years from vintage.Detailed Wine InformationVineyard Manager: Eric TitusWinemaker: Phillip Titus Appellation: Napa Valley Blend: 75% Cabernet Franc, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Malbec, 4% Merlot Harvest Date: 10/27/06 Barrel Aging: 20 months - 33% new barrels,100% French oak Bottled: May 2008 Cases Produced: 385 Alcohol: 14.5% Total Acidity: .57 grams/100 ml pH: 3.88 Release: September 2008 |
