Scarecrow "M. Etain" Cabernet Sauvignon 2022
(Rutherford, California) - [JD 96] [DM 95]

Notes from the Winemaker:

HARVEST NOTES
Vineyard Manager Michael Wolf:

• 2022 began with an extremely dry winter. The bulk of the “water year’s” rain fell between October and December of ’21, with only a couple of inches of rain from January to March. Overall rainfall was well below historical averages. This is important at JJC because a significant part of the vineyard is dry-farmed and dependent on winter rains to recharge the soil profile.
• Frost hours were in the typical range and much less severe than 2021. JJC has a good frost protection system, and no damage occurred.
• Some rain in April was crucial and helpful to getting the vines off to a good start, but it was not significant enough to interrupt farming operations, so cultivation and pest/mildew control proceeded normally.
• The weather at bloomtime was favorable and fruit set produced the potential for an average sized crop.
• Summer growing conditions were favorable for crop development and the vineyard performed well through what has become a typically hot season.
• The heat became extreme during the week after Labor Day. We experienced record breaking temperatures day after day, coupled with a lack of nighttime cooling.
• Some blocks were truly ripe and ready for harvest just prior to the heat wave, and picking at JJC began on September 5. Many blocks were on the cusp of being ready to go, so choices had to be made relative to the unrelenting heat. Harvest was concluded on September 26.
• The vineyard held up well, as did the crews who worked at a frenzied pace, mostly at night.
• Yields were below historical averages.

Tasting Notes
Winemaker Celia Welch writes of the 2022 M. Étain:

This fully ripe Cabernet shows intense aromas of boysenberry, blueberry jam, black cherries, anise, a hint of basil, cardamom, and black pepper. Bold and structural at entry, the ripe fruit flavors dominate the palate from start to finish, with toasty vanilla French oak notes providing balance and deeper base notes. The tannins are pebble-like in quality, promising age-worthiness without detracting from the bright juicy flavors, and the finish showcases the complexity of this Bordeaux-style blend.

Harvested by hand in the pre-dawn hours between September 5 and 26, 2022, the fruit for this wine was fermented in small batches, kept on skins for about 14 days, then gently pressed and transferred to French oak barrels (approximately 60% new) and kept in oak barrels for about 19 months. The wine was produced without the use of fining or filtration. This final blend of estate fruit consists of 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% Petit Verdot, 5% Merlot, and 4% Malbec. A total of 1385 cases were bottled in March, 2024.

Ratings and Reviews

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"While I've too often referred to this as a second wine, it has its own designated parcel and is a completely separate wine from the Grand Vin, which I think accounts for its singular character. Darker currants, tobacco, roasted herbs, graphite, and spicy, chocolatey notes all define this beauty, and it's full-bodied on the palate, with a layered, round, velvety mouthfeel and a great finish. It's a brilliant, opulent, incredibly impressive 2022 that has so much character. Drink this beauty anytime over the coming 15-20 years. The blend is 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5% each of Petit Verdot and Merlot, and the balance Malbec, raised 19 months in 50% new barrels (Drink between 2025-2040)"

95 Points - Decanter:
"Rich, full-bodied, stylish, and expressive, with gorgeous graphite notes, red cherry fruit, a hint of white pepper, and cedarwood, complemented by dark chocolate undertones. Firm, elongated tannins provide a solid foundation for this vibrant and energetic red. There's excellent tension throughout, and the wine finishes with layers of delicious brown baking spices, cedar-laced nuances, and a rich blue-fruited finish that rounds out this delectable expression. Aged in 60% new French oak, with 4% Malbec and 5% Petit Verdot completing the blend. 2025-2036." -JC (1/25)