Nose
On the nose, black cherry, plum and floral notes are layered with
undertones of damp earth and minerality.
Palate
The palate is richly textured, offering intriguing layers of
the black fruits, anise and earth that will continue to reveal themselves as the wine ages. Tannins are
firm and ripe, with balanced acidity adding to the rich mouthfeel and long finish.
Growing Conditions
The 2007 growing season was preceded by a mild, dry winter. Bud break came
early and set a crop of tight clusters of small berries. Summer brought warm, even temperatures
through veraison. Several heat spikes in August suggested that crush might begin early but
temperatures cooled in early September, allowing ample time for phenolics as well as sugars to
reach optimum levels. The result was a slow, steady harvest of exceptional quality, with wines
showing great intensity and structure.
Harvest
Hand‐harvested grapes.
Bottling
Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2009.
Winemaking
Fermented in small, open‐top stainless steel fermentors with indigenous yeasts
5‐day cold soak, 18 days total maceration
Hand‐punched cap
Concurrent, spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 16 months in French oak barrels; 80% new.
