Nose

Explosion of coffee bean, spicy lilac and thyme with touches of cedar, cherry filling, clay and bacon.

Palate

Velvety round entrance with granular tannins and touches of cherry pits balanced with cassis jam lingering on fresh plums with touches of violet and blackberries.

Growing Conditions

" 2014 was a dream vintage, with quality along the lines of 2012 and 2013. Everything ripened in early- to mid-August, including Cabernet Sauvignon, which usually ripens much later. Napa Valley's harvest was unusually early, not surprising given the state’s ongoing drought, which was so extreme that the cover crops in many vineyards never took hold. Substantial rain in late February and early March relieved most of the stress and set the vines up for a vigorous start. "Early" was the key word all season, from budbreak to veraison to harvest. The vintage proved to be a balance between 2012 and 2013. We had some heat spikes that delayed the phenolic ripeness and forced us to push extraction quite hard. The ripeness was there, but the color and tannins really took time to come out. Our 2014 red wines are powerful but with great structure. Patience was the key to this vintage."
- Jean Hoefliger

Appearance

Deep dark black ink with black cherry and English lavender.