Palate

It boasts excellent depth of flavor and elegance on the palate, opening
with pure, ripe black cherry and pomegranate along with nuances of cedar, cardamom and
Darjeeling tea leaves.   Sweet, fine‐grained tannins permeate a long finish accented with floral
notes and subtle minerality.

Growing Conditions

2008 began with an exceptionally dry spring and early bud break.  Frosts in
April significantly lowered cluster counts. Weather stabilized and warmed through summer,
with warmer temperatures continuing through harvest.  A smaller crop of high quality fruit
was able to ripen fully and evenly, developing an excellent balance of sugars and acid.  
Overall, the 2008 wines are bright and expressive with well‐articulated flavors.

Harvest

Hand‐harvested grapes.

Bottling

Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2010.

Winemaking

ƒ Fermented in small, open‐top stainless steel fermentors with indigenous yeasts
ƒ 5‐day cold soak, 16 days total maceration
ƒ Hand‐punched cap
ƒ Native malolactic fermentation in barrels

Aging

Aged 16 months in Damy, Redoux and Seguin Moreau French oak barrels; 74% new.

Appearance

Deep ruby in color.