Nose
The nose is greeted with intense deep black fruit, spice box and bramble.
Palate
The mouth is full, silky and loaded with concentrated blackberry and black cherry with spice and some forest floor. There is just enough sweet oak to support the fruit and the acidity is bright enough to hold it all together. The finish is full and long, bringing you back for another taste.
Growing Conditions
Eleven soil types and a variety of Pinot Noir clones and selections, varied terrain plus the daily effects of cooling summer breezes and morning fog combine to produce exceptional wine from our 335 acre estate vines in Carneros.
The 2014 grown season got off to an early start with bud break about two weeks earlier than average. A late winter weather system brought in enough rain to supply the vines through bloom, and mild warm spring weather gave us good fruit set.
Mild weather through the growing season without rain events or heat spikes was optimal for the development of the fruit. The early spring brought on an early harvest with average size yields of excellent fruit. This is looking to be an outstanding vintage.
Winemaking
Individual vineyard lots were hand picked, destemmed, partially crushed and cold-soaked for 2 days to extract color and flavors. Three times per day they are on a punchdown or pumpover schedule, tailored to each lot to extract the fruit characters.
Aging
Aged for 9 months in French oak with 31% new oak barrels.
