2000 TANTALUS CABERNET SAUVIGNON
VAN DER KAMP VINEYARD

WINEMAKING
This wine was vinified using a slow fermentation technique for high extraction. Aging, as always at Tantalus, was performed using traditional techniques including gentle racking, egg fining and malolactic fermentation. The wine was aged in medium grain, medium toast French oak. Final recontainment in French and Hungarian oak after racking helped to add a particularly noteworthy vanillin element.

VINEYARD SOURCE
Cabernet Sauvignon: The Van Der Kamp vineyard is located on Sonoma Mountain at 1200 to 1500 feet in elevation. The particular lot and block the Tantalus grapes come from is situated in a protected saddle which maximizes sunlight and protects from fog and overcast. The result is extra long hang time with little risk of mildew or rot. The fruit is usually harvested in late October and in some years into November. This long, slow, maturation leads to deep, ruby color and complex flavors of black cherry and cassis. Having many years of experience with this vineyard and the grower, we make our decisions subjectively. We pick on flavors, not “by the brix numbers.”

DESCRIPTION
The 2000 Tantalus Cabernet Sauvignon is rich with deep, dark berry aromas. This wine is wonderfully complex with lush black cherry, black raspberry and cassis and cedar. The lingering juicy finish is complete with some good old-fashioned tannins. Delicious now, or cellar for 2 to 6 years.