Nose
Minerals, laters of spicy ripe fruit flavors of cassis, blackberries and wild blueberries followed by enticing aromas of espresso roast.
Palate
The mouth feel is a combination of power and elegance. A fabulous concentration of dense ripe tannins, an excellent depth and a beautifully delineasted, long finish.
Growing Conditions
This wine is produced from grapes grown on Howell Mountain from Las Posadas Road just outside Rancho La Jota. As usual, respect of the terroir and integrity of the fruit is the key to our winemaking philosophy.
Harvest
All handpicked on October 14 and 21, and November 1 and 2, and hand-sorted on our state-of-the-art sorting tables.
Bottling
No fining or filtering prior to bottling.
Winemaking
After a 6-day cold soak at 38°F, the fermentation took place for 15 days in our temperature controlled five ton fermenters, with pump-overs occurring twice a day. Following the alcoholic fermentation and after a 3-week extended maceration, the wine was barreled and aged for 24 months in 100 percent French oak barrels, with malolactic fermentation in barrels. The wine was stirred on a regular basis during four months.
Aging
24 months in 100% French oak barrels
Appearance
Deep ruby/purple hue.
