The Art
A self-taught artist of Greek and French heritage, Rizo is a respected French expressionist painter known for his passionate brush stroke and spectacular use of color.  Born in Ceret, France in 1921, Rizo’s devotion to the Expressionist movement is apparent in this colorful and lively piece, titled “Route Terrasse au Soleil à Ceret.”  

The Wine
An elegant, intensely concentrated wine with vibrant blackberry and black cherry fruit flavors. This wine exhibits rich, deep color and hints of mint, spice and cassis.

The 1997 growing season in Sonoma County produced an outstanding harvest of Cabernet Sauvignon fruit.  With a history of crafting exceptional wines, Kenwood Vineyards Winemaker, Mike Lee, selected grapes for the 1997 Artist Series cuvée predominantly from the Lindholm and Montecillo Vineyards.  Both vineyards are located at an elevation of about 1,400 feet on the Mayacamas mountain range, bordering the eastern side of Sonoma Valley.  These prominent vineyards are known for generating low-yielding crops of less than three tons per acre, producing complex wines that exhibit a high concentration of vibrant fruit.

After harvest in late September, the grapes were fermented in stainless steel tanks.  The lots were then aged separately in small French oak barrels for 30 months.  After final blending, the 1997 Artist Series Cabernet Sauvignon spent an additional six months in French oak.  The wine was further aged for eight months in the bottle before being released to the market in the fall of 2001.  This Cabernet will continue to improve with bottle aging.

Composition:  94% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Merlot and 3% Cabernet Franc
Aging: 36 months in French oak
Alcohol:  14.3%