| Owner/Contact: |
Jeff & Carolyn Smith |
| Winemaker: |
Bob Foley (Also makes Pride, Robert Foley, Switchback Ridge, School House, etc.) |
| Appellation/AVA: |
St. Helena, Napa Valley |
| Fruit Source: |
100% Hourglass vineyard |
| Vineyard Size: |
Four acres |
| Vineyard Age: |
Vineyard replanted in 1992 |
| Name: |
Hourglass takes its name from the fact that the vineyard defines the "pinch," or narrowest part of the hourglass shaped Napa Valley. |
| Vineyard Location: |
Two miles north of St. Helena off of Lodi Lane and Hwy. 29. Neighboring vineyards include Grace Family, Colgin's Tychson Hill, Vineyard 29, Ahern, Korte Ranch. |
| Topography: |
The unique vineyard setting provides both hillside and valley floor microclimates. Varying degrees of hillside slope create different ripening zones, yielding complexity. Eucalyptus trees flank one block delivering a mint/eucalyptus character, and wild fennel grows throughout the vineyard adding black licorice nuances. |
| Exposure: |
East facing sun exposure. |
| Soil: |
Hambright soil series with extreme rock and stoney/gravelly loam. Soil depth to bedrock is about 15 inches. (Due to rock, grape stakes had to be jackhammered in when the vineyard was planted.) |
| Root Depth: |
Shallow - Average 15 to 24 inches. (Shallow root depth has a major impact on fruit quality by creating a naturally stressed environment which produces small berries and dense concentrated fruit flavors.) |
| Varietal/Blend: |
100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Varietal Clone: |
Cabernet See Clone |
| Ripening Lots: |
Due to varying degrees of hillside slope and rising heat, grapes ripen and are harvested in several small lots over a 4 to 6 week period. Lots are then blended and aged together. |
| Aging: |
Generally the wines are aged 18 to 20 months in a mixture of new and neutral French oak. |
| Suggested Retail: |
$135 / 750ml bottle |
| Vintages: |
1997 - 149 cases (Maiden vintage)
1998 - 48 cases
1999 - 130 cases
2000 - 600 cases
2001 - 800 cases
2002 - 550 cases (April 2005 Release) |
