Nose
This wine opens with alluring aromas of fresh
black raspberry, boysenberry and ripe red plum, swirling with hints of red licorice,
fragrant cinnamon and vanilla crème brûlée.
Palate
Enchanting and luscious, the palate opens
with dark ripe cherry and juicy blackberry that join with suggestions of white pepper,
fresh mint leaf and berry cola. The complex array of flavors lasts through the long finish,
supported by polished tannins and integrated oak.
Growing Conditions
2014 was a consistently temperate growing
season in Napa Valley, with moderate temperatures and minimal rain in September,
allowing even ripening and yielding exquisite, balanced fruit.
Harvest
The fruit for this wine was
harvested at an optimal level of ripeness in mid to late October. The berries were handharvested
at night, carefully sorted and destemmed to tank, where fermentation took
place.
Aging
Racked to 40% new American oak barrels, where it was aged
for 17 months prior to bottling.
Appearance
Ruby red in color.
Food Pairing
Expressive and elegant, this exceptionally food-friendly wine will pair
delightfully with a variety of dishes, from grilled skirt steak with salsa verde, to
pappardelle with rabbit ragout, to Turkish style lamb meatballs. For a memorable
cheese course, try pairing this wine with Cantal, a semi-hard cow’s milk cheese from the
Rhône region of France.