The Art
Kenwood Vineyards is pleased to release its nineteenth Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon, featuring "Ciel d’Orange,” a lithograph by renowned American artist Alexander Calder, on its label.

Alexander Calder (1898-1976) created an outstanding series of works in almost every art medium.  Best known for his mobiles and large outdoor sculptures, Calder’s works are original, brimming with vitality and humor.  The abstract landscape, geometric forms and vibrant colors of “Ciel d’Orange” are characteristic of Calder’s style.  Explaining the use of geometric forms in his art, Calder once said, “The basis of everything for me is the universe.  The simplest forms in the universe are the sphere and the circle.”

The Wine
Concentrated currant and ripe blackberry flavors finish smoothly with vanilla and oak accents. The essence of Sonoma Valley Cabernet reflects a rich core of earthy currant and wild berry flavors.  Intense and concentrated, this wine will age well for a decade or more.

The grapes selected for the 1993 Artist Series came from the Lindholm and Montecillo Vineyards.  Both vineyards are located at an elevation of about 1,400 feet on the Mayacamas Mountain Range that borders Sonoma Valley to the east.  They are both low-yielding Cabernet vineyards, producing less than 3 tons per acre.

The 1993 growing season was long and cool, and the grapes for this wine were harvested in late October.  After fermentation in stainless steel tanks, the wine was aged in French oak for 30 months.  Cabernet Franc and Merlot were then added in the final blend to soften and further enhance the wine.  The wine was aged for an additional year in the bottle before releasing it to the market in the fall of 1997.  This Cabernet will continue to improve in the bottle for a number of years, and winemaker Mike Lee recommends drinking it between the years 2000 and 2005.

Composition: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot
Aging: 30 months in French oak and18 months in the bottle
Alcohol: 13.1%