The 2000 Cain Concept is the third vintage of a new Cabernet blend from Cain. While reflecting the minimalist winemaking philosophy that characterizes our Cain Five, Concept is a different style of blended red wine. Whereas Cain Five is driven by the mountain fruit of the Cain Vineyard and other great mountain vineyards, Concept is based on fruit grown in selected benchland and hillside vineyards in the Napa Valley proper—the mirror image of Cain Five. In Cain Concept, we emphasize the lush fruit and supple tannins of grapes grown in outstanding vineyards on the alluvial fans lining the edges of the Napa Valley and the hillsides of Carneros. For Cabernet Sauvignon, these include vineyards on the famed Rutherford Bench and the outfalls of York and Conn Creeks west of St. Helena; and, for Cabernet Franc, a vineyard in the cool climate and sandy soils of Napa’s Carneros region. In the deep, well-drained, gravelly soils of the Georges III vineyard and the Garvey Ranch, the natural vigor of Cabernet Sauvignon is held in check. The warm days and cool nights of the valley’s benchlands bring the full fruit flavors and aromas of Cabernet Sauvignon to their full potential. The extended hang-time needed to ripen Truchard Vineyards’ Cabernet Franc in the cool Carneros region intensifies this variety’s color and varietal character. Smaller quantities of Petit Verdot (exotic spice) and Merlot (mouthfeel and richness) round out the overall blend. This combination of vineyard location, weather conditions, winemaking practices, and multiple cabernet-varietal blending produces a wine with ripe plum and coffee aromas and sweet soft tannins.
	Varietal Content Cabernet Sauvignon 62%    Cabernet Franc 25%    Petite Verdot 9%    Merlot 4%
	The must was not inoculated (it was fermented by native yeast), and the wine was neither fined nor filtered. The varietals were aged individually in French oak barrels for nine months, then blended and aged for an additional nine months prior to bottling. About Cain Vineyard & Winery Cain Vineyard and Winery overlooks St. Helena from the top of Spring Mountain in the mountains to the west of the Napa Valley. The Estate vineyard is planted to the five classic Bordeaux varieties—Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, and Petit Verdot—and a small amount of Syrah. We make four wines: The Cain Musqué, a Sauvignon Blanc from the Musqué clone, and three Cabernet Blends, Cain Cuvée, Cain Concept, and our signature blend, Cain Five.
	Christopher Howell, Winemaker/General Manager
	Download a copy of Questions and Answers with Winemaker Christopher Howell about Cain Concept Download a pdf click here

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