St. Clement Oroppas 2003
Region: Napa Valley
Winery: St. Clement
Variety: Bordeaux Blend

The 2003 growing season consisted of a wet spring which led to smaller crop sizes and small berries on the vines. A relatively cool summer gave the grapes plenty of time to mature and develop. Harvest started in early September,following a heat wave that propelled the grapes into optimal ripeness. The grapes were hand picked and fermented in a combination of open and closed top fermentors for twenty-five days on the skins. The combination of different tanks and time on the skins produces a wine with elegant structure and silky smooth tannins. The 2003 Oroppas is a Cabernet Sauvignon based wine from a combination of three esteemed appellations: Rutherford, Diamond Mountain, and from within the heart of Napa Valley. To add depth and complexity, the Cabernet Sauvignon is blended with twelve percent Merlot from Carneros and four percent Cabernet Franc from Rutherford. The Merlot adds the lush red fruit component whereas the Cabernet Franc rounds out the structure and tannin of the wine. The wine was aged in eighty-four percent New French oak barrels for nineteen months.Beautiful aromas of blackberries, cassis, currant, and dark chocolate smothered in a raspberry reduction sauce abound in this wine. The rich velvety texture and soft luscious tannins are supplemented by ripe red and black fruit flavors of strawberry and blueberry. Caramel, coffee, and vanilla flavors are supplied by the French Oak barrels that we use to age this wine. The wine has great fruit extraction of plums, wild berries, and cherry cola which coats the palate from start to finish.Varietal Content 84% Cabernet Sauvignon12% Merlot4% Cabernet FrancHarvest Appellation: Napa ValleyHarvest Dates: 09/01/03 – 10/01/03Release: February 2006ReviewsWine Advocate Rated 91 …A big, sweet nose of white flowers, blueberries, espresso roast, white chocolate, and spicy oak. The wine is rich, supple-textured, medium to full-bodied, approachable, and already revealing surprising complexity. (Robert Parker, Jr.) December 26, 2005

Posted by thewinery on December 1st, 2007 at 9:51am | report comment