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