Nose
Aromas on the nose include blackberry pie, mocha and toasted vanilla.
Palate
The Fortress 2016 is a wine full of dark, ripe fruit character, richness and complexity. The palate is met with flavors of blueberry, baking spices and cigar box. The mouthfeel is creamy and round with structure and depth.
Growing Conditions
The 2016 vintage gave winemakers many things to love. The winter and spring rains provided some moisture to get the vines through a healthy spring flowering with more generous fruit production than we saw in 2015. The summer was warm without being exceptionally hot and transitioned into a harvest that progressed at a normal pace without many unexpected weather events. This resulted in wines that are dark in color with lots of ripe fruit character, supple mid palates and integrated tannins.
Aging
16 months in French and American oak, 20% new.
Food Pairing
The wine is perfect on its own or well paired with roasted pork, BBQ and sausage, steaks, and other hearty dishes.
