Comparing Cabernet Sauvignon Clones
Winery: Columbia Crest Winery, located in Washington State, Horse Heaven Hills AVA
Grape Variety: Cabernet Sauvignon
Winemaker: Juan Muñoz-Oca and Reid Klei
Objective: To showcase differences between Cabernet Sauvignon clones in the same Horse Heaven Hills vineyard.
Description: Four different Cabernet Sauvignon clones (2, 4, 8, 21) grown on their own roots were harvested from Austin Sharp Vineyards in the Horse Heaven Hills, all within a few days of each other. They were fermented identically in standard upright tanks. Once the juice was drained off of the skins, the four different clones were barreled down separately and allowed to finish primary and secondary fermentation in older neutral barrels.
Lot Description:
Lot 1: Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 2
Lot 2: Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 4
Lot 3: Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 8
Lot 4: Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 21
Conclusions: While the vineyard site, including soil and climate, tend to impart the biggest differences on wine and grape characteristics, there are also some very unique differences between the grape clones of the same variety. I thought it would be interesting to see differences from Cabernet clones all grown at the same site on their natural roots.
LOT 1: Very expressive, fruit-forward and layered. Big hits of jammy ripe fruit, dark berries and dried fruit. Palate is full of fruit as well. Medium intensity of body and tannins.
LOT 2: Least fruit-forward of the bunch. More herbal influenced. Medium body and tannins.
LOT 3: Big, bright, pure fruit. Strong and aggressive with a bigger, fuller palate and a higher amount of tannins.
LOT 4: Not as fruit-forward as clones 2 and 8, but a decent amount of fruit. Focused more on a dark fruit profile. Nicely layered with herbal and earthy notes. Bigger, full-bodied. More of a structural clone.
