2006 Helena Dakota Cabernet Sauvignon

Tasting Notes

“The 2006 Helena Dakota Cabernet Sauvignon is a wine with a deep, dark red color. The nose presents notes of vanilla and oak. On the palate is an explosion of red fruits and minerality supported by a very round structure. The tannins are mature and present a long finish with hints of blonde tobacco. This wine can be decanted and enjoyed now, or it can be placed in your cellar. Before 2011, decant for full enjoyment.” - Pierre Seillan, Vigneron/Winemaker

Acclaim
92+ POINTS, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May 2009
“Saturated bright ruby. Aromas of cassis, violet, licorice and menthol, plus a whiff of cocoa powder. Sweet and chewy but with lovely aromatic lift to the black fruit, brown spice and floral flavors. At once structured and silky, powerful and stylish. Finishes with firm tannins and noteworthy verve. From a vineyard planted at an elevation of 750 feet. The gravelly silt and loam soil here is a bit less firm than the sandy gravelly loam (volcanic ash) used to make the Helena Montana wine.”

Source

This 12.4 acre vineyard runs southeast to northwest on the eastern side of scenic Highway 128 and possesses slopes of up to 15 degrees. Prevailing westerly winds pass over a large, cold pond and blow uphill, parallel to the rows of vines. These cooling breezes slow down the ripening of the grapes and result in wines that are packed with elegance, complexity and finesse. A pure mountain stream and rocky ridge separate this vineyard from our Helena Montana vineyard.

Silt-loam soil that is reddish brown in color prevails in the Helena Dakota Vineyard. Although the soil is rocky in some places, overall it is softer than the soil our neighboring Helena Montana Vineyard. The softer soil allows vines to establish deeper root systems and grow larger vines. Without fail, the fruit each vintage possesses mineral qualities characteristic of this unique combination of soil and temperature.

Statistics

100% Cabernet Sauvignon
14.8% Alcohol
0.36 TA
3.83 pH
Aged 16 months in small French oak barrels, 78% new