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Wine Details
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Description:
The 2004 Ameritage is a blend of many grapes – cabernet sauvignon, cabernet franc, petite verdot, carmine, sangiovese, nebiolo. The only qualification to be part of this blend is that the grapes are the very best, and that, each in their part, contribute a quality to the completed assemblage.
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Varietal Definition
Cabernet Franc:
Cabernet Franc is an accessible, spicy, herbal, dark blue grape variety that is often compared to Cabernet Sauvignon. Cabernet Franc tends to be softer and has less tannin than Cabernet Sauvignon, although the two can be difficult to distinguish. Sometimes the French refer to Cabernets, which could mean either of the two grapes. Its typical aromas include an herbaceous and pronounced peppery nose, even in ripe fruit, and something eerily like tobacco. The Cabernet Franc ripens at an earlier stage, which gives it reason to exist in the Bordeaux area. In the Loire, where we find it a lot, it gives a clear red fresh and fruity wine.
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Cabernet Sauvignon:
Cabernet Sauvignon is the most widely planted and significant among the five dominant varieties in France’s Bordeaux region, as well as the most successful red wine produced in California. Though it was thought to be an ancient variety, recent genetic studies at U.C. Davis have determined that Cabernet Sauvignon is actually the hybrid offspring of Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Franc. Cabernet Sauvignon berries are small with black, thick and very tough skin. This toughness makes the grapes fairly resistant to disease and spoilage and able to withstand some autumn rains with little or no damage. It is a mid to late season ripener. These growth characteristics, along with its flavor appeal have made Cabernet Sauvignon one of the most popular red wine varieties worldwide.
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Carmenère:
The now resurgent Carmenère grape was brought to Chile in the 1850s before it was virtually wiped out in Europe by the phylloxera epidemic in the 1880s. It has since thrived in Chile, and was mistaken for Merlot until its spicy and distinctive flavor was rediscovered and developed separately from Merlot in recent years.
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Sangiovese:
Sanguis Jovis, the Latin origin for the varietal name, literally means “blood of Jove.” Sangiovese is one of the oldest known varietals and it is likely that ancient Etruscan winemakers cultivated it, although the first literary reference to Sangiovese was in 1722. Sangiovese is probably indigenous to Tuscany, whose most famous wine is Chianti. Chianti is a blend that currently contains a minimum of 90% Sangiovese.Sangiovese thrives in hot dry climates. Because these climatic criteria generally enhance quantity, rather than quality, it takes careful cultivation and winemaking techniques to produce really excellent wine from this grape.
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Petit Verdot:
Petite Verdot is one of the five noble Bordeaux varietals, essentially acting as the nuts and bolts in most Bordeaux blends. With intense color and racy flavors, this wine possesses elements of pencil shavings, dark fruit presentation and a subtle complexity, which can be appreciated by even the most discerning palate.
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Nebbiolo:
The red grape of Barolo and Barbaresco from the Piedmont region of Northwest Italy. Named after the word 'nebbia', or fog in Italian, which rises around the hills of Alba, the famous truffle countryside. It is noted for its high acidity and 'mouth puckering' tannins and its distinct bouquet of black cherries, liquorice and leather. A top Barolo will take years to soften but when mature will evolve the vegetal, gamy characteristics for which this Italian classic is famous. The colour on ageing Nebbiolo wines fades rapidly to form a distinctive brownish rim.
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