Nose
gorgeous floral aromas
Palate
bright fruit flavors on the palate
and a crisp, refreshing finish.
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.
Food Pairing
fish,
poultry, and shellfish
