Nose
Our 2010 “Villa Vista” pumps out an amazing volume of exotic red fruits and flowers (red currants and passion flower).
Palate
It enters the mouth sweetly and arcs over the mid-palate with laser-like acidity. It’s still very much in its infancy due to minimal racking to preserve the aromatics. Decant it for several hours and enjoy with any braised meats.
Growing Conditions
The growing season in 2010 was the coolest on our estate since its inception in 1999. Compared to the weather data for 1998 and 1997, it was still the coolest in recent history. Lucky for us at Kuleto Estate, we have plenty of sunshine despite the lack of heat. The majority of our vineyard blocks lie above the fog-line, so even if Napa Valley is socked in, our vines enjoy the first sun of the day. What does a cool vintage mean for a mountain-top vineyard? It means wines that strongly express their varietal character, have tremendous natural acidity for length of mouth-feel and aging, and modest finished alcohols. Whenever you hear that the Valley has suffered a cold or damp vintage, look to the mountains (particularly on the east side) for exceptional wines.
Aging
26 months 40% new French oak, racked twice
