Harvest
Grapes for the Ridgepoint Wines 2001 Cabernet were harvested from our escarpment estate vineyards on Cherry Avenue above Vineland (Niagara Region, Ontario). Cabernet Sauvignon grapes (50% in the blend) were harvested on 14 October 2001, at 22.9° Brix. Cabernet Franc grapes (50% in the blend) were harvested on 31 October 2001, at 22.0° Brix.

Winemaking
The Cabernet grapes were crushed and destemmed, and vinted separately. Fermentation took place in open-topped tanks. The wine was fermented warm, and given extended skin contact, with manual punch-down of the 'cap' for maximum flavour and colour extract. Alcohol fermentation was followed by malolactic fermentation in the spring of 2002, and the wine was aged in a mix of new and 1-year-old French and American oak barrels for 10 months. Blending was done with the finished wine.

Analysis

Alcohol/Volume: 13.1%	Residual sugar: < 3 g/L
Dryness (Sugar code): 0	Total acidity: 0.0 g/L
Grapes: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 50% Cabernet Franc

Winemaker's notes
This blend has produced a wine of intense red colour in the glass, with restrained black currant/black cherry and dark chocolate aromas arising, all of which will open with aging. In the mouth, good structure means an excellent balance of firm tannin and acidity go with a lighter, fine, fruity finish topped by overtones of bell pepper.

Food pairings
Our Ridgepoint Wines 2001 Cabernet blend can match with spicy spareribs, moussaka (or most any lamb dish), and of course, steak. We like to mix adventure with this wine and chicken with red peppers and roasted garlic from the recipe in The Wine Lover Cooks (Macmillan Canada) by Tony Aspler and Kathleen Sloan.