The 2007 Umbral has always shared similar characteristics to our estate blocks Cabernet Sauvignon. The main difference is the use of 100% free-run juice and by isolating those barrels at the end of fermentation to see what develops with each clonal selection, inevitably 5 or 6 barrels of our entire production of 30 or so barrels always stand above the rest. We carefully select each barrel that qualifies for Umbral and then after an additional 6 months of aging begin the clonal blending process to showcase the absolute best of our estate. The result in 2008 was a more intense, darker, riper, and richer wine that displays fresh crushed black cherries, nutmeg, toasty oak, and a wide array of spices intermixed with heavy layers of blackberry cobbler, espresso roast, and vanilla bean with a strong structured backbone that will support very long aging potential.