Palate
This is a concentrated wine with extractive notes of dusty cocoa, black cherry and generous spice accented with cassis. It is perfectly balanced and the flavors are seamlessly integrated. The tannins are big, dark and supple and the finish goes on and on.
Growing Conditions
Vineyards: Pahlmeyer Estate Vineyard, Rancho Chimiles.
To inquire about purchasing, please email or call 707-255-2321.
Bottling
The wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 7, 2008.
Winemaking
The grape clusters are hand-sorted, and once de-stemmed, the berries are hand-sorted again on the way to the tank. This is followed by a four to five day cold soak, depending on flavor extraction. The fruit is then allowed to ferment with 100% native yeast in small open-top fermentors for two to three weeks. Near the end of fermentation, the must is gently pressed and the wine is moved to barrels where it finishes its primary as well as secondary fermentations.
Aging
Ageing continues in 80% new French oak – a combination of Taransaud, St. Martin and Cadus barrels for close to 18 months.
