Wente Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon

A Californian Cabernet Sauvignon from Wente, grown in the family's Livermore Valley vineyards. The fruit comes from the original Cabernet clones brought over in the 19th century, with smaller amounts of Petite Sirah, Merlot, Barbera and Petit Verdot blended in. The parcels are fermented separately using a rack and return method, in which the must is drained off and poured back over the skins for deeper colour and softer tannins. The wine then spends 14 months in oak before bottling. It smells of blackcurrant with a little vanilla, and tastes of fresh pepper, ripe blackberries and blackcurrant, with a hint of sweetness and spice from the oak.