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2008 Antics Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley

In 2008 we decided to declassify our Respite Cabernet Sauvignon and create a fun, easy-to-love wine that people could enjoy every night. Throughout the growing season our intention had been to make and bottle this wine under our Respite label so the vineyards received the same careful attention, the grapes were hand-sorted as usual, and the winery took the same care during crush and fermentation. In the end though we decided that Mother Nature had thrown us too much of a curveball that year. We knew this wine was good, but it wasn't quite up to the level that we have set for our main label. So we did some brainstorming for a name that was unique but complimented the name Respite, created a simple yet visually striking label design, and a new member of the Reichel Vineyard wines was born.

Dark garnet in color with deep aromas of cassis, black cherry, caramel, plum, and mocha. The mid-palate is broad and shows impressive flavors of blackberry, dried fig, cigar box, black olive, kumquat and round silky tannins. The structured acid that Alexander Valley is so well known for keeps the wine lively and well balanced.

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2007 Cabernet Sauvignon

Winemakers Notes:
Red/purple in color with bright cassis, mocha, black raspberry, tobacco, dusty spice box and sloe berry. The mouth-feel is a unique blend of the structure that comes from our high eleva- tion and red volcanic soil along with the addition of the refined elegance that comes from our winemakers. The tannins are chewy and are kept in beautiful balance by the bright acidity that is characteristic of Pine Mountain fruit.

PRESS
93 Points Wine Advocate #187 February 2010
“The 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Reichel Vineyard possesses sweeter fruit, greater volume,
more depth, and a full-bodied style revealing lots of camphor, creme de cassis, licorice,
tobacco leaf, and a hint of graphite. It is a full-bodied, beautifully textured, pure, elegant, yet
substantial Cabernet to enjoy over the next 15+ years. Robert Parker

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Our name
When we decided to make the leap from being grape growers to becoming vintners we knew that we had one chance to convey on our label the feeling of tranquility that we experience each time that we drive the winding road up the mountain and arrive at our vineyard. After brainstorming for weeks, the perfect name finally came to us: Respite. (Actually, the name came to Corinne.) It is the place that will always clear our minds and lower our blood pressure. It is truly our Respite.

Our label conveys that idea: the subtle wavy lines suggest the busyness of everyday life while the open space around the name visually represents the feeling of calm that comes from the panoramic views, the absence of noise and the light breeze that cools us as we work.

Our Winemakers
Our wines are crafted by May-Britt and Denis Malbec. Their extensive knowledge in viticulture and winemaking help guide the direction for our Respite project. Prior to establishing their enological and viticultural consulting business in 2000, Denis was the third generation of his family to work at Château Latour, beginning with his grandfather in the 1920's and continuing with his father who was cellar master from 1947 to 1994. Denis started in the cellar in 1993 and took over as Enologist and Cellar Master from 1994 to 2000. May-Britt began her wine industry career in Sweden as a sommelier in many of Stockholm's top restaurants before starting her own restaurant, Le Bateau. In 1992 she won the award for Best Sommelier in the Nordic Countries, and has served on several sommelier judging panels.