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2003 Hourglass Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker

Bob Foley

Vintners

Jeff and Carolyn Smith

Partners

The Chilton and Clark Families

Vineyard Designation

Hourglass Estate

Soil Series

Hambright and Fractured Bedrock

Appellation

St. Helena, Napa Valley

Varietals

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

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Tasting Profile

Early tastings of the 2003 indicated an immature wine with an elevated sweet oak profile and slightly lighter texture. Somewhat subdued were the traditional Hourglass markers of mint and camphor, replaced by a greater signature of mocha and toasted brown sugar. Upon release, it was not fully integrated and a bit disjointed, but age has a way of working some magic. Recent tastings over the past several years reveal that the ‘03 has integrated nicely, picking up quite a bit of textural weight and aromatics, thus making it somewhat of a late bloomer. The signature Hourglass aromatics of black licorice, pomegranate, and mint are now well integrated with a sweet coffee/toffee and confected fruitcake character. It is rich and wide across the mid-palate, finishing with soft tannins. This wine has turned out to be more brooding and dark than tastings upon release would have led one to conclude. In our recent tasting, pairing the ‘03 with a firm nutty cheese, much like you would with port, seemed the perfect complement.

Cellaring Potential

Age has greatly benefited the complexity of the ‘03, but we think it is at or near its peak. Our recommendation is to crack the cork and pair it with a hard, pungent, nutty sheep or cow’s milk cheese. Don’t forget the crusty sour dough.

~ Jeff Smith, January 2016

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