Palate
An expressive bouquet of raspberry truffle and cocoa leads into attractive dark berry flavors on the palate. Boldness in its
youth will transform into lush, earthy qualities with time. Best paired with steak au poivre with Cognac sauce or Ragout of
beef with sun-dried tomatoes. Cellar through 2030.
Growing Conditions
For the third consecutive year 2014 was hot and dry. Thankfully, our vineyard retained adequate soil moisture, supported by
well-timed winter rains, resulting in an overall successful growing season. Warm and moderate temperatures, coupled with
plenty of sunshine, ripened grapes to full maturity and led to an early budding and early harvesting vintage. Similar to the last
two vintages, this year gave us an average sized crop yielding soft, hedonistic wines that showed delicious fruit characteristics
very early on.
Harvest
The grapes were harvested throughout the month of October.
Bottling
Bottled:
September 6th, 2016
Winemaking
All fermentations were conducted in small, two ton fermenters
filled by gravity. A 48-hour cold soak period preceded a warm fermentation peaking at 90°F. The fermenters were punched
3 to 4 times a day during the fermentation period. After fermentation was complete, the grapes were kept in contact with the
wine for a variable number of days lengthening the finish to extract the best phenolic structure from the fruit and avoid the
harsher, late-extracted tannins.
Aging
22 months in 75% new French oak
