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
Growing Conditions
The 2008 growing season began with heavy rains which soon waned and for the second year in a row the Valley
received about 60% of normal rainfall. The dry soils and warm spring led to an early bud break. The frost season
was one of the worst in 30 years, with 22 to 24 days of protection required. Areas that had not experienced frost
were not spared and, once all the grapes were harvested, our total crop was off 40%. Some rain occurred during
bloom and the summer was relatively cool, delaying veraison. Green thinning and canopy management were a
necessity to bring vines into balance. A heat spell over Labor Day brought maturity levels along quickly and then
cooled down to allow gradual ripening. Light rains during the latter part of harvest had little impact. Overall, the
low yielding vintage has produced elegant wines with deep color, high natural acidity and firm tannins.
Aging
59% tank, 41% barrel (8 mos),
17% malo-lactic, 12% new oak
