Nose
Strikingly focused aromatics of crushed
graphite, cedar, sage, and cigar box precede flavors of mountain black cherry, wild blackberry and currant
wafting in high wattage power from the glass.
Palate
The mouthfeel’s full weight and roundness is framed by
waves of silky yet pronounced tannins, which crescendo into a long, elegant finish that exhilarates the
palate.
Growing Conditions
A classic vintage with few seasonal extremes, set the stage for superior quality. An excellent bloom and
set period were followed by a warm summer, lacking any significant heat spikes. Even ripening gave way
to a marginally early harvest of up to a week; concluding with the last of the cabernet sauvignon being
picked on October 22nd. The resulting wines boast site specificity, depth, and distinction.
Harvest
Hand-harvested at night, sheers only.
Bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered; June, 2016.
Winemaking
Hand-sorted while still cold from the field
Fermented in small, closed-top stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts
6-day cold soak, 30 day total maceration
Gentle pumpovers and délestage
Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel
Aging
Aged 20 months in French oak barrels; 100% new.
Coopers: Baron, Darnajou, Marques, Radoux, Taransaud
Appearance
Densely saturated garnet in the
glass, has even in its appearance, depth balanced by liveliness.
Food Pairing
Consider complementing the complexity and profound depth of this wine with the simplicity of a
pan roasted veal chop, or well-seasoned dry aged beef. Serve at 50°-55° F.