2001 Helena Dakota Cabernet Sauvignon

"The 2001 vintage marks the first single vineyard wine sourced from Helena Dakota. The vibrant, dark ruby color of this wine is followed by a vivacious cherry and violet nose. The fruit-forward flavors begin with red berry enhanced by a slight hint of wood. Helena Dakota's powerful fruit flavor continues to unfold, with black fruit and a note of cedar. The impressive structure of this wine, coupled with soft tannins, lends to a long, refined finish." - Pierre Seillan, Vigneron/Winemaker

89+ POINTS, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2004
“Full ruby-red. Reticent nose hints at blueberry, blackberry, espresso and game. Lush and rich...”

Sourced exclusively from estate-owned vineyards, Anakota is a collection of single vineyard, single varietal, Knights Valley appellation wines that personify the rustic elegance and spirit of rural Sonoma County. Situated on the flanks and foothills of Mount St. Helena (at the heart of a complex volcanic zone that erupted several million years ago) the Helena Dakota Vineyard is brought to life as stressed vines struggle with rhyolite soils and challenging climatic conditions to create small, intensely flavored berries.

Running southeast to northwest on the eastern side of scenic Highway 128, this 12.4 acre vineyard is adjacent to the Helena Montana Vineyard and possesses slopes of up to 15 degrees. The prevailing westerly winds pass over a large pond, fed by a cold mountain stream that separates the two vineyards. The wind blows uphill, parallel to the rows of vines, cooling the temperature and slowing down the ripening of the grapes. This slower ripening process yields red fruit that produces wines that are packed with elegance, complexity and finesse.

The soil is a gravelly, silt loam that is reddish brown in color. Although it is rocky in places, it is softer than the soil of Helena Montana which results in deeper, more established root systems and larger vines. The berries possess a mineral quality that is characteristic of this unique combination of soil and temperature.

• 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 14.4% Alcohol
• 0.54 TA
• 3.74 pH
• Aged 14 months in 100% new French oak barrels
• 500 cases produced