Nose
Exuberant aromas of perfectly ripe black cherry and plum fruit.
Palate
Medium to full bodied with ripe juicy red fruit flavors on a long, lingering, persistent finish.
Growing Conditions
The year began dry with some very cold days and single-digit nighttime temperatures around the New Year holiday. The season continued dry, with about 60% of normal precipitation throughout the appellation. Temperatures were warmer than normal as winter continued into spring with resulting earlier budding, bloom and set in the vineyards across all varieties. The summer growing season continued on the mild to cool side, with few days topping 100 degrees, even in the warmest locations in the appellation. A heat spike around the Labor Day holiday added the boost of sugar development that growers were looking for to complement the excellent acid structure.
Aging
The wine averaged 16 months in 100 percent French oak barrels, 42 percent new.
