Growing Conditions
The 2021 growing season was very typical where the early morning marine layers gave way to warm days and light breezes throughout the growing season. Some mid-summer heatwaves delayed growth a bit, but late-summer cooling resulted in a slight delay of harvest while we waited for acidity, pH and brix to balance creating mature flavors.
Bottling
February 2023
Winemaking
Hand-harvested clusters were sorted in the vineyard to assure only the highest quality would reach the winery where they are gently destemmed. After being destemmed, these lots are fermented in a four-ton stainless-steel open top fermenter for 20 days. After daily pump-overs (for color and tannin extraction) the tanks are tasted and analyzed for their tannin and structure to determine the length of extended maceration.
Aging
The lots were aged separately for 12 months, in 40% Twice Used French Oak, 60% Neutral French Oak. The lots were racked once during its cellar life, with the second to blend the lots together then barreled down in 62% New French Oak, 38% Twice Used French Oak where the lots will rest for three months until the final racking, just prior to filtering and bottling.
