2019 Judge Palmer "Vintage Select" Cabernet Sauvignon, Sonoma County, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

The Vintage Select combines lots from all of our vineyards to give the truest expression of the character of each vintage in Sonoma County. The Cabernet for the 2019 edition of this wine was sourced from the Star Springs Ranch in Alexander Valley (70%) and our Estate Vineyard (30%) in Dry Creek Valley.

The 2019 growing season began with heavy rains in March and April, which allowed soils to store up plenty of water to weather the dramatic heat spikes we witnessed in June and mid-August. Other than those brief events, the growing season was relatively mild and we were able to take advantage of the extended hangtime from this mountain site. Harvest at our estate occurred on October 2nd - the latest we've picked Cabernet since working here - and we picked Star Springs on October 8th. Both produced grapes with bright, expressive fruit flavors and balanced acidity at moderate sugar levels. The long hang times and even ripening yielded wines that show concentrated flavor and structure without being over-ripe - an ideal California vintage.

The grapes were de-stemmed into small open-top tanks for a long cold soak to encourage development of color before fermentation began spontaneously with wild yeast. Fermentation continued without the addition of any chemicals or enzymes, aided only by the heat of the sun and gravity-fed "pump-overs" once per day. After pressing the wine went into French oak barrels – 30% of which were new – aged for 24 months, and was racked only once, immediately prior to bottling.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Emmitt-Scorsone Winegrowers is a partnership between winemakers Palmer Emmitt and Michael Scorsone. At our small artisan winery in northern Sonoma County, we bottle wines under several labels – Judge Palmer, Domenica Amato, and Emmitt-Scorsone. Across the portfolio, our grapes are sourced from small, family-owned vineyards and our wines hand-made with passion and authenticity.

Named after Palmer’s grandfather, Judge Palmer showcases Cabernet Sauvignon and other varietal wines made in the classic California tradition from premier vineyards in both Napa and Sonoma. Michael’s Sicilian grandmother is the inspiration for our Domenica Amato label, which features Grenache and other Rhône and Italian varieties produced in an old-world, food-friendly style. Our new Emmitt-Scorsone brand offers a more value-oriented entry point to enjoy our hand-crafted wines.