2002 Helena Dakota Cabernet Sauvignon

"The Helena Dakota Vineyard 2002 vintage is a deep ruby color with saturated aromas of blackberry, dark cherry and subtle hints of oak. The dark fruit leads the way to a slight mineral finish with traces of cocoa and coffee. Supple tannins support a powerful yet elegant structure. Enjoyment is enhanced by decanting." - Pierre Seillan, Vigneron/Winemaker

92 POINTS, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, February 2005
“Offers pretty raspberry/floral notes with a Château Margaux-like finesse and complexity. Medium to full-bodied with a more elegant, restrained style than its younger sibling, it possesses a Bordeaux-like structure, beautiful fruit, firm tannin, and a long finish. Anticipated maturity: 2011-2024.”

91 POINTS, Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May 2005
“Good medium ruby. Medicinal black fruits and flowers on the nose. Supple, dense and rather suave. Very French in its combination of breadth and uncompromising dryness. The subtle finish shows sneaky, palate-coating length. Very suave wine.”

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
• 14.6% Alcohol
• 0.53 TA
• 3.6 pH
• Aged 14 months in 100% new French oak barrels