The East Slope Cabernet Sauvignon is part of a pair of wines characterized by a special block of Cabernet vines from Precept's Skyfall Vineyard that are separated by a strong gradient which divides the vineyard into east and west facing slopes. From mid-July through September, the student winemakers monitored the vineyard and observed differences in soil temperature, canopy development, and berry and cluster size, which impacted grape composition, acidity, sugar and flavor development.
The students maintained a strict winemaking protocol to eliminate any variance in the wines other than the aspect from which the grapes were harvested. Both wines were aged for 18 months in a blend of 1/3 new, and 2/3 neutral French oak barrels, which resulted in a restrained oak structure and refined tannin.
AROMA/FLAVOR: Dark fruit flavors of black current and prune with tannin
PARTNER VINEYARD: Skyfall Vineyard, Precept Wines
PARTNER WINERY: J. Bookwalter Wines, Richland, WA
COMPOSITION: 13.03% Alcohol, TA 8.1g/L, pH 3.6, RS .08 g/L
PRODUCTION: 70 Cases
