Nose
A deep bouquet of cacao powder, dried blossoms, dried red fruit, black cherry and currant, blueberry and licorice, with nuances of cigar box, graphite, vanilla and black truffle with a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch.
Palate
Extremely full-bodied, the palate echoes the nose with the same rich, ripe fruit tones and diverse spice notes. The mouth feel is dense, round and seamless, with supple tannins, savory clove and tobacco elements and beautiful ‘patina’ notes leading to a long finish with subtle mineral accents.
Growing Conditions
Elevation: 1,000 – 1,400 feet
Soil: Rocky volcanic-origin
Rhyolite Exposure: Southerly
Harvest
The winter was dry, with only 75% of normal rainfall, continuing four years of drought. Unseasonably warm spring temperatures accelerated bud break by three to four weeks. While May brought welcome rain, the cool moist conditions affected the blooming and led to an uneven fruit set. The crop was small and hand thinning, to ensure even maturation, reduced the yields further. Steady warm temperatures dominated the remainder of the growing season providing ideal ripening conditions. A hot spell accelerated the pace of harvest, giving us the earliest finish date in the winery’s history. The picking decisions were crucial and meticulous sorting of the fruit resulted in wines with depth, concentration and balance.
Bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered May 18, 2017
Aging
Aged 18 months in 100% French oak barrels from select artisan coopers
Appearance
Near black in color with saturated ruby and vermillion nuances.