Nose
Dark fruit, cola notes, and spice fill out the nose.
Palate
Succulent black cherry and plum dominate on the palate with
layers of cigar tobacco and cardamom. Gorgeous acidity and depth.
Growing Conditions
Considered a quintessential Carneros AVA vineyard site, Lee Vineyard was planted in
1967 and the vineyard was replanted in the 1990s and early 2000s with Dijon, Pommard and Swan clones. Haire clay loam soil; exposure to the Petaluma wind gap and San Pablo Bay
airstreams, creating temperate growing conditions.
A warm Spring led to early bud break and bloom, while a cold May reduced fruit set
and kept yields in check. Final ripening happened at a steady state and contributed to
an early harvest with high fruit quality.
Clones: 17% Pommard, 83% Swan
Harvest
After night harvesting, the fruit from the Lee Vineyard has a short distance to
travel—a quarter mile down the road to Saintsbury .
Winemaking
Each block remains
separate and receives gentle handling from the sorting table to small open top
fermenters for 5 day cold soak, 11 day total cuvaison. This is a site that requires
cautious and gentle extraction regime for balanced tannins and bright acidity.
Aging
11 months in 22% new, 22% one year old, 56% neutral French oak barrels.
