Nose
Alluringly dark and spicy, this wine displays beautiful aromas of currant, cassis, sage and thyme, as well as hints of cinnamon and clove from barrel aging.
Palate
On the palate, the tannins are impeccably balanced, adding depth to the lush ripe berry flavors, with layers of cola and grenadine emerging as the wine evolves in the glass.
Growing Conditions
The 2018 vintage delivered ideal growing conditions that were reminiscent of the exceptional 2012 and 2016 vintages. Perfectly timed spring rains saturated the soils, and were followed by moderate weather, with almost no days of heat above 100° F throughout the summer. Because the phenomenal growing conditions yielded a larger-than-average crop, we did as many as three to four thinning passes between June and August, aggressively dropping fruit to fine-tune the crop load. The temperate conditions continued late into the season, providing abundant hangtime, and ensuring ideal flavor development and the retention of excellent natural acidity. As a result, our 2018 wines offer beautiful color, concentration and weight, with lovely varietal purity.