Get Vertical

Typically, wine takes you horizontal, but that’s another topic…perhaps the Moody Blues said it best:

I remember the taste of the vintage wine
From ’63 to ‘69
And I’m proud of the things we believed in then
If I had the chance I’d go around again

So, why is it fun to collect a vertical of wine? Because the vintage is a one time occurrence…that bottle of wine will never be produced again. The circumstances of the vintage are a time arrested moment that has been captured in the bottle. When you reach a point in life where you appreciate fine wines made by winemakers who are interested in “terroir expression,” you can begin to view wine as a reflection of a time and a place. When a wine is made from the same small parcel of ground, year after year, you start to understand what that place tastes like. When you taste several vintages of wine from the same vineyard, you begin to really know it. You get to know how that terroir expresses itself in dry years, in wet years, in hot years, in complex years, in early years, in late years, in difficult years, in easy years. The vertical then becomes a liquid history, a snapshot of the moment and can evoke a deep connection to the original experience of discovery. It’s like a great photo album that you get to drink!

The Ehlers Estate vertical of our Cabernet Sauvignon 1886 is a perfect place to begin your long term relationship with our beautiful vineyard. The three vintages, 2004, 2005 and 2006 each have their own story to tell. Consistently sourced from Block 1, and planted on clones 15 and 337, our Cabernet Sauvignon 1886 is the ultimate expression of our terroir. We started our organic and biodynamic farming practices in 2003 and these vintages mark the first, early presentations of our commitment to the highest possible viticulture standards.

The 2004 harvest was marked by an early bud break followed by scattered heat spikes throughout the summer. Veraison was completed early with well developed sugars and higher acids. We had one of the earliest Cabernet Sauvignon harvests on the Estate with pick dates between September 7 - 13. We had average yields of 2.5 tons per acre with balanced fruit and well integrated tannins.

Conversely, the 2005 harvest saw record setting rain late into the growing season which delayed bloom and set. There were very few heat spikes during the summer and sugars were slow to rise. We had a later than normal harvest punctuated by an “Indian Summer” (warm fall) which allowed for extended hang time. We picked our Cabernet Sauvignon between September 30 – October 21 and our yields were exceptionally high at over 5 tons per acre. As a result, we had very developed fruit flavors which exhibit soft, round and dense tannins.

Finally, the 2006 harvest was beset by intense New Year floods and a late spring. July saw a record-setting 10 day heat wave which allowed the vines to “catch up” on the growing season. Cooler weather prevailed in August and September which again made for a later harvest. We picked our Cabernet Sauvignon between October 9 – 26, and although we had some rain in early October, the Cabernet Sauvignon was a lighter than average yield at just over 2 tons per acre and thus the loose clusters with small berries did not suffer. This vintage is more concentrated with a full body and velvety tannins.

We recommend drinking the 2004 and 2006 vintages between 2014 and 2018 and the 2005 vintage between 2012 – 2017.

If you have any additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our winemaker, Kevin Morrisey at kmorrisey@ehlersestate.com. Enjoy!