Nose
On the nose, dominant notes of ripe blackberries, crème de cassis and dark chocolate truffles are complimented by bay leaf and fine leather.
Palate
The complex and textured palate showcases flavors of blackberry crumble and star anise offset by earthy undertones and toasty oak. Built for your cellar, this wine will age gracefully over the years to come.
Growing Conditions
Grape growing on Howell Mountain requires the practice of patience. On a sunny yet cool hillside, these inconspicuous vineyards surrounded by a thicket of Redwood trees yield highly concentrated fruit that takes longer to ripen. In 2017, abundant winter rainfall fueled vine growth early in the season. A mild spring, followed by steady warmth in the summer and fall, led to a slightly early harvest with ripe, fruit-driven intensity.
Harvest
The last to be harvested of all our wines, these grapes were hand-picked in late October.
Winemaking
Fermentation took place in small open-top tanks, allowing for precise and gentle extraction of color and flavor. Each lot was aged in French oak barrels and evaluated individually, with the final blend occurring the summer of the following year. In total, the wine was aged for 26 months in barrel (82% new) and a year in bottle.
