2008 San Francisco Chronicle Gold Medal Winner

Vineyard: Exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on the gently rolling hillsides of Puma Springs Vineyard in Dry Creek Valley. The grapes are draped in morning fog that gives way to beautiful and nourishing afternoon sunlight.

Vintage: Things could not have started off worse this vintage; with a cold, wet spring and periodic rains during the summer, all matter of fungus and mold were alive and well. The amount of extra time we spent adjusting and readjusting canopies and mowing and re-mowing vineyard rows, cost us about 20% more than normal. Moving into harvest, just one rain could have knocked us out cold, but then a miracle! 30 plus days of perfect Indian summer. We ended up getting the grapes just the way we wanted them. Unknown to us, the grapes continued to gain weight late in the year. The extra weight slowed and lengthened the ripening process and this combined with great weather brought our grapes to perfect
ripeness. The last grapes were picked on November 11, the latest ever for us in Sonoma. The last press load was December 1st and by this time, we were sick of harvest. This was one of those very rare harvests where we got it both ways—exceptional quality and excellent yields.

Tasting Notes: Using high level sustainable farming practices Puma Springs produces a wine with dark rich flavors of blackberry, currant, and black cherries with supple tannins. Biodynamically in transition in 2005, this property will receive its Demeter certification with the 2008 vintage.

Winemaking: This wine underwent maceration in an open top fermentor on skins to build body and mouthfeel in order to compliment the dark berry fruit. The wine was aged in 30% new French oak and bottled in May of 2007 after 17 months of barrel aging.

Benziger Farming Practices: At Benziger Family Winery, we are dedicated to winemaking that reveals the true character of the vineyard, the varietal and the vintage in certified-sustainable, -organically grown and -Biodynamic® wines defined by individuality and the passion of the people who make them. Through our commitment to natural farming and environmentally and socially responsible business practices, we strive for sustainability and the preservation of our Sonoma Mountain family winery for generations to come.

Our sustainable philosophy promotes natural vineyard management, restoration of the land and biodiversity on the estate. We believe these practices result in wines that reflect the authentic flavors, aromas and character of the vineyard.

Alcohol: 14.4%
Total Acidity: .61
pH: 3.71
Cases Produced: 311