Nose
This wine has aromas of black cherry, blackberry, raspberry and a hint of sour cherry with a touch of dried herb.
Palate
The flavor is powerful yet the acidity and tannin are beautifully balanced. The finish is long and elegant and keeps you coming back for more.
Growing Conditions
Very few acres of Montepulciano exist in California. We were lucky to find a meticulous farmer with an eye for unusual varieties in Tracy Hills. The soil in his vineyards is high in gravel content which is designated as a “mineral resource zone” by the US Geological Service. Deficit irrigation is utilized to grow grapes in this vineyard.
Winemaking
The grapes are hand picked whilst cool in the early morning to retain their freshness. They are gently destemmed and transferred to closed topped fermenters where they naturally ferment. The wine spends 10 days on skins until the flavors peak and the tannin is at its sublime best.
Aging
We press directly to barrels where it spends 15 months on oak. It gets 40% new American oak to highlight the bright fruit flavors and soften the tannin.
Food Pairing
Try this with roast game alongside fruit sauces, chicken mole or Italian baked beans.