THE NAME
Archimedes (287 BC – 212 BC), the Greek mathematician who invented the lever, compound pulley, and hydraulic screw, was also famous for discovering the law of hydrostatics (fluid displacement measurement) and various geometric equations. Likewise, he helped fight the Roman army by burning its ships’ sails with enormous magnifying glasses. Archimedes’s contributions continue to be highly regarded, even by today’s standards, and were greatly admired by Francis Coppola’s grandfather, Agostino. Although it had been a family tradition to name the eldest son after his father, Agostino insisted his first son be named Archimedes instead. Today we pay homage to Coppola’s uncle Archimedes, who, like his namesake, loved math and mechanics.
THE WINE
Using fruit harvested in 2006 when the Francis Ford Coppola Winery first opened its doors, we are extremely fortunate that the Archimedes debut release reflects one of the great vintages of the decade. We are pleased to present our estate’s flagship wine, crafted from small lots of fruit we earmarked specifically for this project.
THE VINTAGE
Sonoma County experienced an incredibly long growing season in 2006. Although rainy spring weather delayed budbreak for this vintage, a relatively cool summer let the grapes mature slowly. Even as fall approached, there was no precipitation so we were able to let the fruit hang on the vines until November, when it ripened to perfection. Not only did the grapes we harvested exhibit full maturity, they showed excellent tannin structure and an abundance of ripe, juicy flavors.
WINEMAKER'S NOTES
Archimedes is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon from Alexander Valley and Cabernet Franc from Knights Valley. The Cabernet Sauvignon is grown on the northeastern edge of the appellation. Because the vineyard is west facing, the grapes receive a great deal of direct sunlight, which helps produce highly concentrated fruit with big, chewy tannins. We specifically chose this site because it is the warmest area in Alexander Valley and it consistently produces the most concentrated fruit. The vineyards are planted to Clone 7 Cabernet, which is famous for its black cherry flavors. To provide complexity and complementary layers, we source our Cabernet Franc from a Knights Valley vineyard located just below Mount St. Helena. Here, diurnal summer temperatures range from a mere 40º F at night to 100º F during the day. This tremendous disparity in temperatures helps the fruit retain its natural acidity while letting it achieve full physiological ripeness. Atypical of most Cabernet Francs, ours is darker and more opaque than our Cabernet Sauvignon. Incredibly smooth with velvety tannins and intense aromas of dark sour cherries, cranberries, and sandalwood, this rich, robust wine exudes an amazing array of juicy red plums, berries and cassis, plus a tapestry of wood, spices, and tobacco.
Appellation: Sonoma County, CA
Blend: 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 24% Cabernet Franc
Alcohol: 14.5%
Barrel Regimen: 24 months French oak. 60% New, 40% 1 to 2 year-old barrels
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