Nose

Its black garnet hues are resplendent with
aromas of blueberry, currant, cocoa and wet slate.   

Palate

The palate is silky and rich, and
powerfully charged with intense, finely sculpted layers of graphite and dark chocolate.  
The velvety mid‐palate crescendos toward an endless finish graced with fine yet stately
tannins.

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, 28 days total maceration  
 Native malolactic fermentation in barrels 

Aging

Aged 20 months in small French oak barrels; 100% new.