Nose
Aromas of luscious ripe black cherry mingle with some notes of nutmeg, cinnamon, coffee, and toasted oak combine with a hint of graphite.
Palate
Flavors of rich black plum and chocolate, coupled with subtle raspberry and toasted vanillin barrel. The smooth, silky palate is enveloped by elegant tannins.
Growing Conditions
2016 saw a near-perfect growing season. A warm spring jumpstarted bud break followed by an ideal June and July. August was cooler allowing the fruit to ripen uniformly under slow, constant conditions. Merlot harvest kicked off on September 16th, 2016.
- Rutherford Estate Vineyard
Harvest
The fruit was hand-harvested in the cool morning hours and brought to the winery in half-ton bins.
Bottling
July 27, 2018
Winemaking
Clusters were sorted using a double sorting system: first, the clusters were sorted by hand then the individual berries were sorted to ensure that only the ideal grapes were chosen. These grapes were delivered to a fermenter for a period of resting on skins. Warm fermentation temperatures were encouraged along with gentle cap maceration to achieve the desired color and structure before an extended maceration time on skins prior to final pressing. The wine was transferred directly to barrel where it aged for 19 months. Twenty-nine percent of the berries used in this blend were fermented then aged in French Oak barrels for added layers of complexity.
Aging
100% French oak (43% new) for 19 months, 29% barrel fermented
Appearance
Deep shades of reds and purples commence this wine.
Food Pairing
- Red Miso Red Wine Glazed Salmon
- Garden Caponata
- Barely Buzzed Bacon Grilled Cheese
- Baked Sausage and Sourdough Strata
- Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Cocoa Crusted Pork Tenderloin
