Produced from the renowned Bootjack Ranch vineyard on the eastside of the Salinas River in Paso Robles, the Niner 2003 Cabernet Sauvignon was made from four-year-old vines and the grapes were all handpicked and sorted in the vineyard to ensure optimum quality. This wine garnered a well-deserving Silver Medal from the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, which is the largest competition of American wines in the world. Niner’s Cabernet Sauvignon begins with aromas of blueberry, cherry, chocolate mint, and cinnamon spice, while a slight earthiness, and a bit of vanilla and toasty oak follows. An equal amount of Merlot and Cabernet Franc were added to the final blend. The Merlot brings a soft roundness to the middle of the finished wine, and Cabernet Franc lends elevated blueberry flavors and a chewy richness. In the mouth, the wine has a soft approach, with some up-front tannin, a sold middle, great structure, and a lasting fruitful finish.