Nose
It expresses aromas of blackberry, dark plum and
boysenberry, along with a touch of clean earth.
Palate
The palate is smooth and opulent, featuring
finely sculpted layers of black currants, bittersweet cocoa, freshly cut cigar tobacco, damp
earth and wet slate. The dense mid‐palate tantalizes with acacia flowers and vanillin, and
leads to a pleasing 60‐second finish
Growing Conditions
2009 began with an abundance of spring rain followed by mild, steady
summer temperatures that set the stage for nearly ideal growing conditions. The well‐set
fruit ripened slowly allowing for an excellent balance of sugars and acids to develop. The
resulting wines can be characterized as elegant and rich with profound depth and structure.
Harvest
Hand‐harvested grapes.
Bottling
Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled June 2011.
Winemaking
Fermented in small, closed‐top stainless steel fermentors with indigenous yeasts
5‐day cold soak, 27 days total maceration
Native malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 20 months in small French oak barrels; 100% new.
Appearance
Deep garnet in color,