Nose
Vanilla aromas
Palate
sweet oak flavors and a subtle
cream texture from the malo-lactic fermentation, give the
wine a delicious mouthfeel and lengthy finish while the tank
ferment portion keeps the wine bright, crisp and lively. Crisp
and refreshing on the palate
Growing Conditions
The 2011 growing season was the most challenging in Anthony’s 35 vintages in Napa Valley, characterized by
uncharacteristically cool temperatures, uncertainty, ill-timed rain, and crop loss. A wet winter and spring continued
with unusual rainfall into mid-June that delayed bloom and disrupted fruit set in parts of the region. Some vineyards
saw more than 30% loss of crop. There were few days over 90 degrees during summer, and autumn started with
some rare early rain storms. Overall the cooler-than-average growing season saw more than a third above normal in
rainfall and ended in the latest harvest in anyone's memory. This was truly the year of the professional. Vineyard
managers, cellar masters and winemakers used every tool available to them to achieve glory. At Bell, careful
selection of vineyards, painstaking work during harvest and in the cellar, and of course Anthony’s decades of
experience have paid off resulting in truly elegant wines.
Aging
75% tank, 25% barrel (6 mos),
9% new oak
