2011 Cabernet Sauvignon Mountain Estate Vineyard

Whitney Fisher said that one benefit of the low yields attained in 2011 was good concentration to the wines, especially the cabernets, but she still thinks that the safe bet is to err on the young side when deciding when to drink them. She's more positive on the chardonnays produced in '11, on the other hand, "because chardonnay benefits from cooler seasons when acidity levels are maintained and sugars build slowly." The same can also be said for that variety in 2012, in which yields were high to very high, "but chardonnay responds far more positively to a large crop than red grapes, especially cabernet." So dropping fruit through the growing season was essential, she added, "but the fruit was so perfect that it made sorting at harvest a breeze."