Nose
It doesn’t take much time in the glass to reveal the ripeness of the vintage. Dried cherries, baking spices, and vanilla intermingle with softer notes of espresso bean, pipe tobacco, and lavender.
Palate
The 2015 steers toward dark fruit with plenty of blackberry jam and plums slowly yielding to intense, vibrant tannins and bright acid.
A touch of smoke punctuates the midpalate revealing anise and cocoa. Within a few moments rhubarb appears as do dried ginger and black pepper. Additional ageing time
is undoubtedly necessary to reveal the potential of this wine.
The finish ties both the nose and palate together with fresh raspberries, a subtle hint of mint, and incredible freshness.
Growing Conditions
A relatively warm winter set the stage for another year of drought in California. Budbreak occurred early in Calistoga, increasing the risk for vine-damaging frost, but our concerns were allayed as spring proved to be mild and uneventful. As June and July arrived, the weather remained temperate providing additional hang-time for flavor maturity and color development in the fruit. As is usually the case, the light crop turned out to be of excellent quality.
Harvest
22 months, 100% French, 40% new
Bottling
August 2017
