Aquinas Cabernet Sauvignon

Description

Winemaking Notes Our 2014 Aquinas Cabernet Sauvignon represents the quintessential elegance that is a well-balanced North Coast Cabernet Sauvignon. Exhibiting complex layers of cassis, black cherry, and tobacco leaf balanced with hints of graphite and bitter cocoa nibs that create the full body and smooth finish. The Petit Verdot added to the blend bolsters not only the color and complexity of this wine, but also brings a light and fruity favor to the table. The Malbecs aroma of leather and tobacco as well as smoky finish help to balance out this Cabernet Sauvignon to a point of perfection. Roasted lamb and rosemary fingerling potatoes, grilled cheese with gruyere cheese, thyme and shallots, and creme brulee make the perfect mates to this luxurious wine.Brand Philosophy Aquinas wines were born from our conviction that good wine, one of lifes simple pleasures, should be easily accessible to all. In championing this philosophy we didnt take the easy route. We headed straight for the esteemed appellations of the North Coast, where we began crafting luxurious wines that would be priced within reach of most wine drinkers. Aquinas wines are named in tribute of St. Thomas Aquinas, a revolutionary philosopher of the 13th century who used scientific methods to try to prove the existence of a higher being. Just as St. Thomas sought to question the assumptions of his world, we seek to challenge the assumptions of ours.Appellation Our 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon comes from the best appellations in Californias North Coast. The North Coast AVA American Viticultural Area is one of California’s premier wine-growing regions, covering more than three million acres in Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, and Lake counties, as well as parts of Marin and Solano. Bordered by the Pacific Ocean to the west and San Pablo Bay to the south, the area is composed of rugged coastal ranges, volcanic mountains, gentle rolling hills, deep valleys and wide alluvial plains. With tremendous diversity in soil types and microclimates, the North Coast produces grapes that are deeply influenced by terroir, infusing the wines with character and a unique sense of place that can’t be found anywhere else in the world.Vintage With another year in the record books, the 2014 vintage came in at the third-largest grape harvest ever, down eight percent from the previous year. A mild winter and spring with drought conditions persisting, bud break occurred early. From southern to northern California winemakers have stated that it was an even earlier harvest then years before, starting with sparkling grapes in July and ending mid-October for later ripening varieties. Despite the drought, California will produce another great vintage. Arid conditions have given the grapes a chance to struggle, which thins out the vines and allows the clusters to gain concentration of flavor, intensity and complexity. – Aquinas