2009 VioRous

Although he describes the 2009 and 2008 vintages as "not that different," John Kongsgaard told me that the 2008 growing season was "full of trouble, with some late heat spikes hurting the tender red varieties," while 2009 never got too hot. Easier extractions in 2009 yielded subtle, long wines with a sophisticated texture. Incidentally, beginning with the 2009 vintage, Kongsgaard's cabernet will come from a very cool, low-vigor site on Atlas Peak, planted in the 1970s at an altitude of 2,200 feet. Previously it was mostly from a vineyard owned by David Abreu, 200 feet above sea level. "I hope the new wine tastes like I made it," said Kongsgaard. "Certainly it has that 'striving for elegance' aspect to it."