About Fogarty
Few wine regions on earth can match Santa Cruz Mountains’ climates, soils and vertigo-inspiring views. Set high in the mountains overlooking California’s Silicon Valley, the Thomas Fogarty winery has been making single-vineyard Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Merlot and Cabernet from the SCM appellation since 1981. Fogarty’s two estates are divided into micro-vineyards, ranging from .25 to 5.25 acres, based on soil and topography. All are maritime (12-18 miles to Pacific), cool-climate (Regions I and II), high-elevation (1600-2300 feet), low yielding (1-3 tons per acre) and mountainous. The winery was founded by Dr. Thomas Fogarty, a Stanford cardiovascular surgeon and world-renowned inventor.

Vintage
2004 was a challenging but highly successful vintage for the Santa Cruz Mountains. A heat spike in early September forced us to re-evaluate our traditional cool-climate viticultural practices. Hard work and patience allowed us to adapt to growing conditions that were more like Napa or Sonoma than Santa Cruz Mountains. Beautiful weather during most of our “ripening zone” led to miniscule yields of intensely flavored fruit.

Vineyards
Our 2004 Cabernet Franc came entirely from the Camel Hill Vineyard above the Lexington Reservoir in Los Gatos. Owned by John Anderson, the vineyard is perched on a complex series of hillsides offering a wide array of exposures and soil types. Although the Cabernet Franc variety is relatively unknown to much of the wine drinking public, it seems to have found a real home on these elevated slopes producing wines that are deep, aromatic and well structured.

Winemaking
Our 2004 Camel Hill Cabernet Franc was aged for 22 months in new and used French and Russian oak with three to four rackings a year. We blended in a small amount of Merlot (2%) to add a bit of fatness to the wine.

Tasting Notes
While one of the riper “Francs” we have produced, this is still remarkably silky and elegant in the mouth. It features ripe fruit with a hint of chocolate and brown spice to accent the classic varietal flavors of violet and cherry. As with many of our 2004 Bordeaux reds, this is a remarkably forward wine that drinks well in its youth and should continue to improve over the next 5-7 years.

TECHNICAL DATA:

Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains

WINEMAKER
Michael Martella

VINEYARDS
100% Camel Hill Vineyard

COMPOSITION: 98% Cabernet Franc, 2% Cab. Sauvignon
Finished alcohol: 15.6% ABV
Acid/pH: .63/3.55
Oak treatment: 25% New Russian Oak
22 Months
Total production: 121 cases
Release date: October 15, 2007
California suggested retail: $48.00