Harvest date: September 26, 2002

Fruit with small berry and cluster size was selected from our best mountaintop and hillside vineyard blocks. The berries were gently separated from the stems and placed into open top fermenters for a 24 hour cold soak before adding yeast to begin fermentation. Cap punch down was done 3 times a day throughout the 12 day primary fermentation period. Maloactoic fermentation had completed in December. At Coyote Crest all wine movement is done by gravity, never pumped. Bottled unfiltered and unfined allows the full character of the varietal to stand out. This Cabernet Sauvignon was aged for 26 months in 50% new and 50 % two year old French chateau barrels from the finest coopers.

“The 2002 Cabernet Sauvignon is a rich robust wine with a deep concentrated ruby color. Bouquets of menthol and vanilla with layers of black cherries, chocolate and licorice on the palate lead to a smooth long finish.”