Francis Ford Coppola Cabernet Sauvignon 93rd Awards Edition 2019
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The 93rd Awards Cabernet Sauvignon is sourced from high elevation vineyards in eastern Alexander Valley. High elevation provides prolonged sun exposure and less dramatic temperature shifts, allowing vines to synthesize flavor and phenolic compounds at a higher and more consistent rate. Light winds also work to moderate temperature. These conditions work together to allow for slow, steady fruit ripening.
2019 was the first time that California has been 100% drought-free since 2011. Winter and spring rains provided sufficient water in the soil through midsummer, with irrigation not starting until July. The vintage provided us with a mild growing season, allowing for very nice complexity and outstanding quality to this year's fruit.
Full-bodied and robust, The Family Coppola 93rd Awards Cabernet Sauvignon delights the nose with tantalizing aromas of blueberry, mocha toffee, and dark cocoa spice. Juicy flavors of concentrated blackberry and ripe plum are followed with notes of mocha, andan enticing vanilla caramel lift on the finish; an exceptional wine for every special occasion.
Francis Ford Coppola Winery, re-opened in July 2010, is the latest venture from Francis Ford Coppola, whose passion for wine, food and adventure is nowhere more evident than in this new production – a winery resort located in the heart of Alexander Valley, California. Among the many attractions at the property, Francis Ford Coppola Winery features a wine tasting bar, two restaurants, swimming pools, a movie gallery, a performing arts pavilion and a park area with game tables and bocce courts.
Francis puts it best, saying the winery is meant to be "a wine wonderland, a park of pleasure where people of all ages can enjoy all the best things in life – food, wine, music, dancing, games, swimming and performances of all types. A place to celebrate the love of life."
A noble variety bestowed with both power and concentration, Cabernet Sauvignon enjoys success all over the globe, its best examples showing potential to age beautifully for decades. Cabernet Sauvignon flourishes in Bordeaux's Medoc where it is often blended with Merlot and smaller amounts of some combination of Cabernet Franc, Malbecand Petit Verdot. In the Napa Valley, ‘Cab’ is responsible for some of the world’s most prestigious, age-worthy and sought-after “cult” wines. Somm Secret—DNA profiling in 1997 revealed that Cabernet Sauvignon was born from a spontaneous crossing of Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc in 17th century southwest France.
Nearly a northern extension of Napa Valley, Alexander Valley starts just north of the small, Knights Valley, and is just a few minutes drive from the Napa town of Calistoga. It is Sonoma County’s hottest AVA. But the Russian River, which runs through the valley, creates cooler pockets and its soft, alluvial soil is ideal for grape growing, especially Cabernet Sauvignon. In fact, some believe that Alexander Valley Cabernets truly rival the best from Napa Valley and many of the heavy-hitter producers have largely invested here.
In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, which makes up over 50% of plantings, Merlot and old vine Zinfandel thrive here. Ample, fleshy Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc dominate white wine production. Some old-vine plantings of Grenache have also been discovered and more recent experiments with Sangiovese and Barbera show great promise.