2005 Ferrari-Carano's PreVail Back Forty - Alexander Valley [ $85 ]
At only 1.5 tons per acre, the grapes for Back Forty are grown on low-yielding vines on a 40 acre, 1,100-foot elevation vineyard block at the back side of Ferrari-Carano’s RockRise Mountain in Alexander Valley. Vibrant boysenberry, cassis and caramel aromas blend with pure and harmonious layers of blackberry, currant and ripe black cherry flavors on the palate, while nuances of dark chocolate and espresso roast give way to creamy oak flavors and texture. The soft, dense and refined tannins set apart this expansive wine of extraordinary elegance.
Vintage Notes
Our mountain vines are dry farmed in shallow, rocky, low-vigor soil that add impressive depth and concentration of flavor intensity to the wine. A wet winter gave way to a late March warming trend making for great bud break and a quick start to the growing season. A mild summer yielded grapes of wonderful balance, bright varietal characteristics and rich, plentiful tannins. The last of the grapes were harvested in early November.
Winemakers Notes
The grapes for Back Forty are hand-harvested, and upon entering the winery, hand-sorted and then gravity fed directly into oak tanks for seven days of cold soaking. After primary fermentation, the wine is gravity fed to barrel for malolactic fermentation and aged in the wine caves for 22 months, with an additional 14 months aging in bottle prior to release.
| Appellation: |
Alexander Valley |
| Blend: |
100% Cabernet Sauvignon |
| Cooperage: |
90% new French and 10% older French oak barrels |
| Release Day: |
July 2009 |
