Nose
Enticing aromas of vanilla, melon and mango are layered with apricot, creme brulee, butter and a slight minerality.
Palate
Those scents are echoed as flavors on the creamy, rich palate, along with peach, pie crust and baking spices. The long, smooth finish is marked by mouthwatering acidity.
Harvest
A cool spell in August stalled harvest a bit at the outset, but a warm September brought a mad dash to the finish. All in all, 2016 was another high-quality vintage despite small volumes for some varietals due to cool, rainy weather at flowering. Sustainable farming practices throughout the growing season were tailored to each block with the assistance of aerial photos produced using NDVI (Normalized Difference Vegetation Index) technology. The fruit was hand-picked at night and sorted in the vineyard.
Winemaking
The grapes were gently whole-cluster pressed while the fruit was still cool. The juice was pumped to tank to cold-settle overnight before it was racked to barrel for primary and malolactic fermentation. The lees were stirred every two weeks to give the wine rich flavors and a creamy texture.
Aging
9 months in American and French oak barrels (1/3 new).