The Season
The 2008 season started with spring frost which resulted in smaller berries with high concentration of flavor.  The fruit intensity allowed this vintage to have a big, bold, and full body wine.

The Vineyard
Herrick Red is a tour of top Napa Valley vineyard sites in a bottle, including the longtime Conn Creek source vineyard in Yountville for which the wine is named and which forms the backbone of the blend.

The Process
During the 2008 harvest season, winemaker Mike McGrath opted to harvest at night and cold soaking, a technique used to amplify fruit character and mitigate postured tannins.  After harvest and fermentation, the wine is aged in 30% new French and American oak barrels and then another 10 months as a blend.

The 2008 was the second release for Herrick, a Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend of classic Bordeaux-style varieties with a hint of Syrah, Herrick Red continues Conn Creek’s tradition of celebrating the diversity of Napa Valley. The result is a classic wine with a modern twist, sure to appeal to the adventurous wine drinker.

The Experience
The 2008 Herrick is a dark ruby wine, with plum, cassis, and spiced nutmeg on the nose.  The aromas are complemented by intense chocolate and dark fruit flavors.  The wine is round and robust at first sip and the flavors linger on your tastebuds.

The Facts
Varietal Composition: 61% Cabernet Sauvignon, 26% Syrah, 13% Cabernet Franc

Conn Creek is a boutique winery on the Silverado Trail in the Rutherford District.  For nearly 40 years, the winery has focused on Cabernet Sauvignon and Bordeaux styled wines.  In keeping with its heritage, Conn Creek secures grapes from nearly all of Napa Valley’s renowned sub-appellations, sourcing from vineyards – including Bill and Kathy’s Collins Holystone Vineyard in St. Helena – that are proven to grow exceptional grapes that produce wines of character and expression. It’s an approach that captures the “Best of Napa Valley” and provides winemaker Mike McGrath with an unparalled palette from which to blend each wine and vintage. Through these diverse sites and regions, we explore the differences between Napa Valley’s sub-appellations as well as the ways in which they complement one another.

Wine Enthusiast - 88 pts

"Lots of pleasure in this dry, classically structured wine. It’s rich and forward in juicy blackberries and cherries, with a milk chocolaty richness but also a dried herb earthiness that grounds it. Good price for a wine of this class." - Steve Meimoff

Aging Potential:	Ready to Drink
Alcohol By Volume:	14.5%
Appellation:	Napa, California
Barrel Type:	French Oak, American Oak
Body:	Full
Color:	Burgundy
Flavor Pairing:	Braise
Food Pairing:	Pasta, Beef
On the Nose:	Plum, Nutmeg
On the Palate:	Plum, Currant, Chocolate, Cassis, Blackberry, Black Cherry
Serving Recommendation:	Room Temperature
Texture:	Rich
Varietal:	Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc