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2004 Hourglass Estate Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemaker

Bob Foley

Vintners

Jeff and Carolyn Smith

Partners

The Chilton and Clark Families

Vineyard Designation

Hourglass Estate

Soil Series

Hambright and Fractured Bedrock

Appellation

St. Helena, Napa Valley

Varietals

100% Cabernet Sauvignon

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Current Vintage Notes

The 2004 vintage was warm with punctuated heat spikes. While not our favored farming conditions for long-term aging capability, this type of growing year can produce interesting wines with youthful power. This was a vintage where it was difficult to hold acidity late into the season and sugars were more elevated as a result of the heat, leading to slightly higher alcohols.

Tasting Profile

The ‘04 upon release was texturally very sleek and sexy with loads of black fruit and a wide mouthfeel. The aromatics were more in the blue and back fruit spectrum rather than the usual mint, anise, and floral notes associated with Hourglass. Slightly higher alcohols in the high 14% (Hourglass is typically in the low 14%) and lower acids contributed to a “sweeter” fruit component that made the wine very dramatic in its youth. Alas, lower acids pushed the flavors squarely in the black fruit camp (blackberry) and did not contribute the normal yin/yang of tangy red and black fruits that are characteristic of the vineyard. The most recent tasting showed that the ‘04 has likely seen better days as a young wine. The aromatics were more dried fruit and candied cranberry than the exotic cedar, tobacco, and mint of other older vintages. The mouthfeel is still round with some fruit “baby fat,” but the finish is shorter than older vintages of Hourglass and with fewer layers. Enjoyable, but not profound.

Cellaring Potential

As noted, the low acid and bigger black fruit and alcohol of this vintage lead us to believe its best drinking days are now behind the vintage. Though still a pleasant wine, our recommendation is to drink now, as it will probably not improve with age.

~ Jeff Smith, January 2016

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