Nose

Perfumed with spiced apple pie, tangerine, lemongrass, vanilla, brioche, and orange blossom.

Palate

The mouth-filling palate is lush with baked pear, quince, ginger and cardamom, which carry through to a mineral-laden finish lasting for minutes before enticing the taster into another sip.

Growing Conditions

The 2012 growing season has been described by many as “textbook perfect”. Temperate summer days moderated plant growth, contributing to smaller cluster and berry size during lag phase, leading to increased concentration of flavors. An idyllic Indian summer finished the maturation process, producing fruit with exceptional character and intensity.

Harvest

Hand harvested at night.

Bottling

Unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2014.

Winemaking

 Whole cluster to press, cold  Barrel fermented, indigenous yeasts, 5 months to completion  Spontaneous malolactic fermentation concurrent with alcoholic fermentation

Aging

Aged 15 months in French oak barrels, 71% new. Aged sur lies with biweekly bâtonnage. Coopers: François Frères, Cadus, Damy, and Seguin Moreau

Appearance

Brilliant golden straw in color.