The making of Austin Hope Reserve Cabernet begins with small lot fermentations separated by individual vineyard blocks which receive daily pump-overs for maximum extraction. These lots are constantly supervised, tasted & analyzed for tannin and anthocyanins in order to determine optimal length of extended maceration after fermentation. Once drained and pressed, the young wines are barreled down into a combination of once used and neutral French Oak. In fall of 2020, the lots were blended together and continued barrel aging in 75% new French Oak. Just before bottling the 2020 Austin Hope Cabernet, the winemaking team tasted and selected individual barrels that displayed exceptional quality and character. These barrels were combined together to form the AHCS Reserve. After an additional 6 months of ageing in 100% new French Oak, the wine was then bottled in late spring of 2021.
This 2020 Reserve continues to push the boundaries of what Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon is capable of producing. On the nose, fresh blueberry cobbler, burnt sugar, vanilla bean and a touch of earth evolve onto the palate and seamlessly display flavors of coco powder, baking spices with additional silky vanilla. The beautifully integrated tannins frame this robust Cabernet Sauvignon to reveal a luxurious full mouth feel that allows this wine to linger.
