new wine: Kobalt 2009 Window Pane

Deep and enticing, with a blend of sweet berry, toast, and coffee beans. On the palate, ripe rich berry, violet with essences of fresh red raspberries, vanilla, and cola nut. Black pepper accentuates the layered fruit flavors and hints of sweet spicy oak. The fruit for this wine comes from the younger vines used by Kobalt Wines and other select vineyards in Northern California, primarily Napa Valley.
The start of the 2009 vintage was quite normal for growers who were able to sleep nights not worrying about the threat of frost—or the lack of water to combat it if it came. Late spring rains delayed irrigation needs and the warm spell in June helped curtail excessive canopy development. The nearly 14 days of 100°f plus temperatures that mark a typical growing season, 2009 counted perhaps only four or five overall, again helping to reduce demand for water when the resource was relatively scarce.
Every vintage has its challenges, ’09 was no exception, with rain arriving in mid October. The fruit weathered it just perfectly as most thicker-skinned reds like Cabernet Sauvignon had not been harvested yet, with cooler temperatures cooling down the grapes from the Indian Summer for a moment, keeping the harvest on an even, steady pace. Today, vintners can adapt to conditions in the field on a day-to-day basis. Working closely with grape growers, each vineyard block is nuanced to grow the highest-quality wine grapes possible.
Winemakers:
Kevin Carriker
Mark Herold
Production:
2009 Window Pane – 730 Cases of 750ml bottles