Nose
Packed. Lifted and perfumey. Voluptuous, with a great deal of youthful intensity, demonstrating primary blue and black fruit characters. An enticing potpourri of bakery aromas—chocolate-covered cherries, caramel, spice, coffee bean, boysenberry cream, black cherry, vanilla, crème brûlée, with hints of bay leaf and tobacco, and wonderful underlying minerality.
Palate
Amazing balance, long finish, structured tannins. Built for aging.
Growing Conditions
The growing season began with a dry winter and mild weather which segued into one of the coolest Mays on record. This impacted bloom and fruit set, and contributed to significantly lower yields. The early summer months were relatively temperate and ripening moved along at a moderate pace, which then picked up significantly in the late summer when we experienced several heat events. Shade cloth, overhead misting, targeted irrigations, and our vines’ natural canopies protected our fruit and preserved the freshness that we so prize in our grapes and wines. In September, there was more heat and we picked at a slightly higher Brix than normal for us, thereby respecting the character of the growing season to create wines that authentically tell the story of each vintage. Because the yields were low and harvest was spread out over two weeks, we were able to fine-tune our picking decisions.
Aging
Aged 20 months
French oak barrels (new 60%)
Appearance
Opaque deep purple.
