Cain Vineyard and Winery Spring Mountain, Napa Valley

Set high above St. Helena on top of Spring Mountain, the Cain winery and vineyards enjoy one of the most spectacular settings in the Napa Valley. This rugged site, chosen in 1980 by Jerry and Joyce Cain, was the first Napa estate to grow the five principal Bordeaux varieties. Their dream of producing a red wine that would rival the best in the world has been realized with Cain Five. The June 2007 edition of The Wine News featured Cain in its feature article "The Flowering of Spring Mountain". Contributing Editor Jeff Cox wrote "I have made a pilgrimage here because a bottle of 1990 Cain Five made from Spring Mountain fruit remains the single-most delicious California Meritage I've ever tasted."

Cain Five 2007 Cain Five is one of the most classically built wines made in the Napa Valley. The emphasis each year is on structure and expressing the terroir of Spring Mountain. In a vintage like 2007, this wine has an expansive bouquet. Deep bass notes of black currant and hot rocks emerge, toasty bread notes and bay laurel follow. This is only an infant and will provide enjoyment for 20-30 years. In 2007 the blend is 68% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 6% Malbec, 5% Petit Verdot and 5% Cabernet Franc.

Cain Concept 2007 The 2007 Concept emphasizes the lush fruit and supple tannins of grapes grown on the alluvial fans lining the edges of the Napa Valley and the hillsides of Carneros. For Cabernet Sauvignon, these include the famed Rutherford and Oakville districts, the outfalls of York Creek and Conn Creek west of St. Helena and, for Cabernet Franc, the cool climate and sandy soils of Napa's Carneros region. In the heart of the Napa Valley, the deep, well-drained and gravelly soils of the Georges III and the Tokalon vineyards hold the natural vigor of Cabernet Sauvignon in check. Here, the warm days and cool nights of the valley's benchlands bring the full fruit flavours and aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon to full potential. These two highly regarded vineyards comprise the majority of the Concept blend. For Cabernet Franc, they turned to Carneros. The extended hang-time needed to ripen Truchard Vineyards' Cabernet Franc in the cool Carneros region intensifies the colour and varietal character. 2007 will be recognized as the best year of the decade for Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. Moderate yields, uniform ripening, a warm May, followed by a moderate summer and a warm September brought everything together. If there is a tiny quibble with this vintage it would be about ripeness, which was so easy to attain that it might be possible to overshoot. Fault this wine, perhaps, for too much generosity. Cabernet Sauvignon 57%, Merlot 18%, Cabernet Franc 13%, Petit Verdot 12%

Cain Concept 2002 Library Release The third release in the Library Edition series, 2002 Cain Concept, demonstrates all the reasons why you want to age wine. The bouquet becomes ever so much more subtle and complex. Gone are the excesses and rough edges of youth. No longer simply poised on vibrant fruit, the wine now reveals layers. The palate becomes silky, smooth, and sumptuous, with an exquisitely graceful finish. Five extra years in the bottle has revealed one thing: the 2002 was a superb vintage for Cain Concept. An additional five years just begins to reveal the potential of this wine. You could drink it now with great pleasure (decant it for an extra boost), or keep it for another five years. "Luscious earth, black licorice, and black cherry flavours, with an impeccable structure and great length." Karen McNeil

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All wines are available by the unmixed case to Licensees and Private Consumers, subject to availability.

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