Swanson Alexis

2004 was an early season in all senses of the term. Bud break began quicker than anticipated, followed by heat spikes as soon as June. Further periods of heat followed, interspersed with our typical summer fog pattern. Veraison and other stages of maturation were also early. Harvest started two to three weeks in advance compared to previous years. We waited for acidity to decline, and harvested our Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot fruit with excellent sugar-flavor-acid balances. Temperatures cooperated nicely. As we harvested, we realized that crop size was lower than anticipated, which explains to some degree the early harvest. Fruit ripeness was optimum, and blocks were harvested on a predictable schedule, which facilitated quality control at the winery.

VINEYARD

This wine was sourced exclusively from our Schmidt
Ranch, located along Oakville’s Mayacamas foothills
on the west side of the Valley. The well-drained alluvial
soils produced a small crop of very intense, concentrated
fruit.

WINEMAKER’S COMMENTS

A wonderfully intense example from a superlative vintage for Oakville Cabernet. This wine is very rich and powerful, but retains ample cassis, black cherry, licorice, and roasted espresso bean on the nose and on the palate. The mouth has excellent structure, in terms of fine-grained, round, ripe tannins, and exactly enough acidity to ensure that this will be perhaps the longest-lived Alexis ever produced by Swanson. Plan on cellaring this wine for 3 – 5 years, and on being able to drink it for the next 20+ years.

- Chris Phelps, Winemaker