2004 Coho Summit Vine Ranch Cabernet Sauvignon

Coho is in Napa. It was founded in 2002 by Brooks Painter and Gary Lipp and named in honor of the Coho salmon, which the founders say “embodies an innate wisdom so essential to understanding ourselves and our environment. As stewards of the land winemakers must strive to sustain our habitat and the species that share it.” Before starting their own winery, Painter was a winemaker and manager at such Napa Valley producers as Stag’s Leap Wine Cellars and Robert Mondavi, and Lipp was a sales and marketing executive at Chalone Wine Estates and Paul Hobbs, among other places. Coho makes limited quantities of Pinot Noir, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon and a red blend.

Diamond Mountain District AVA is in the Mayacamas Mountains at the northwestern end of Napa Valley. The appellation is relatively high and the entire district is more than 400 feet above sea level. Some vineyards are as high as 2,200 feet above sea level. Because of their altitude, Diamond Mountain vineyards experience warmer days but colder nights than vineyards on the valley floor. Once volcanic soil, the terrain in the appellation has over time become less fertile, making grape growing particularly challenging. Nevertheless the district has attracted wine producers for more than a century. There are 500 vineyard acres out of a total of 5,000 acres. Among the highly regarded wineries here are Lokoya Winery, Diamond Creek Vineyards and Schramsberg Vineyards. Diamond Mountain Cabernet Sauvignon and Cabernet Franc are generally firmly structured, rich and quite tannic. Chardonnay is full-bodied with apple and peach aromas and firm acidity.

One of the most widely grown grape varieties, it can be found in nearly every wine growing region. A cross between Cabernet Franc and Sauvignon Blanc. It’s a hardy vine that produces a full-bodied wine with high tannins and great aging potential.