Nose
Aromas of raspberries, cherries, brambleberry and cola with notes of vanilla. Long, elegant finish, with notes of cigar.
Palate
The wine opens with bright fruit flavors followed by soft, velvety tannins on the mid-palate and a long, elegant finish.
Harvest
Across California in 2019, the growing season was long and even, with moderate winter rains resulting in a later than usual bud break. Cool spring temperatures followed by warm temperatures in the summer and fall, caused us to pick our fruit in September. These conditions allowed fruit to ripen evenly at a steady pace, making for a well-balanced wine.
Winemaking
Following harvest, a small number of lots from the Santa Rita Hills appellation within the larger Santa Barbara appellation were fermented in open-top fermenters, helping to retain the varietal’s fruit flavors and tannin structure adding complexity to the blend.
Aging
The wine was aged mostly in stainless steel to help preserve the wine’s fruit and acidity with the balance being aged in new and 1-2-year-old French oak barrels to help soften the tannins. 14% NEW FRENCH OAK 29% 1—2-YEAR-OLD FRENCH OAK