Nose

This hedonistic offering from the Hyde Vineyard seduces with big
aromas of black fruit and underbrush.

Palate

The palate is explosive
with layers of chambord, blueberry and cigar box; the elegant,
graphite core holding court beneath, and leading to a long finish
of fine-grained tannins.

Growing Conditions

Warm weather in spring led to an early budbreak. A
summer of unusually high temperatures resulted in
a very early harvest. Consistent work in the
vineyards was the key to keeping vines and fruit in
balance and assuring even ripening. The resulting
cabernets are bold wines, with great density and
lots of chewy tannins.

Harvest

Hand-harvested grapes.

Bottling

Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; Bottled July 2006.

Winemaking

♦ Fermented in 5-ton closed-top stainless steel fermentors with
indigenous yeasts
♦ 6-day cold soak, 29 days total maceration
♦ Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels; 4 months to
completion

Aging

Aged 21 months in French oak barrels from Taransaud, Seguin Moreau,
Alain Fouquet, Demptos, Remond, Bossuet; 80% new.