Palate
It is full bodied, complex cherry and raspberry flavors with good tannin, vanilla and hints of coffee. There is a hint of herbal character that we cherish in our cool-grown fruit.
Growing Conditions
The grapes for this wine came from our Carneros Home Ranch West. The Cline Home Ranch West is located in the fog and wind-cooled southern Sonoma Carneros growing region. The vineyard blocks range from gentle slopes to flat land – with soils varying from deep, gravelly loams to shallow (less than 18 inches)clay and loam. The cool growing conditions bring out the classic herbal flavors of these grapes.
Winemaking
The grapes are hand-picked and trailered to the crush-pad where they are destemmed without crushing. This gentle handling minimizes extraction of the bitter elements in the seed and stems. The grapes are pumped to a stainless tank and inoculated with a pure stain of wine yeast. Fermentation temperature is controlled at a maximum of 85 degrees and the wine is pressed at dryness. Malo-lactic fermentation is completed in the primary fermenter.
Aging
11 months in oak barrels.
