Nose
the wine shows its deep ruby color while aromas of red
fruits and polished oak promise a voluptuous character.
Palate
On the palate, the red fruits transition
to elegant, mouth-filling dark fruits, baking spices and dried herbs
Growing Conditions
For the third year in a row, Napa Valley experienced an exceptional vintage and near drought conditions. Though the
drought continued to concern us throughout the growing season, between 11 and 17 inches of rain fell in the critical
months of February and March, coming at the right time to provide the necessary water needed for a fairly smooth
growing season. The warm winter resulted in an early bud break. July’s relatively low temperatures were coupled
with high humidity during the summer, heightening rot and mildew concerns. The relatively cool summer slowed
down sugar accumulation to achieve perfect ripeness at lower sugar levels. The growing season provided numerous
challenges – our third consecutive drought year, the South Napa earthquake in August, and late season hail. Our
harvest started about two weeks early, the earliest since 2004, with vines yielding loose clusters of small, intensely
flavored berries. The resulting wines have deep color, rich fruit flavors and a wonderful, supple texture on the palate.
