Nose
Aromas of black currant, blackberry,
boysenberry, red cherry, forest floor, cedar, tobacco, Oolong tea, vanilla and pie crust.
Palate
The
mouthfeel is broad and complex with mature, fine tannins and vibrant acidity providing a
frame for the cascading red and black fruits that persist through the very long finish. We
recommend decanting this wine in its youth.
Growing Conditions
The 2011 growing season will be remembered for challenging weather, low
yields, and a historically late harvest. Spring and early summer rains contributed to a cool,
wet growing season. In response to slower maturation due to these conditions, we dropped
over half of the fruit onto the ground to enhance overall ripening. The resulting wines are
Bordeaux-like in character; striking in their restraint, complexity and elegance.
Harvest
Hand harvested at night.
Bottling
Unfined and unfiltered; bottled June 2013.
Winemaking
Hand sorted, cold
Fermented with indigenous yeasts in closed-top, stainless steel tanks
6 day cold soak, 31 days total maceration
Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 20 months in French oak barrels, 100% new.
Coopers: Taransaud, Darnajou, Marcel Cadet, Radoux