Nose
The 2013 INEO is a complex and thrilling wine effusively filling the glass with violets and dark fruits made mysterious with notes of ristretto, menthol, creosote and blued steel.
Palate
A beguiling palate steeped in darkness dominated by black cherry, blackberry and plum builds into a full, rich and soft-edged middle dolloped with sweet cocoa and black licorice before tightening into a long, powdered mineral inflected finish of extinguished embers. A fascinating wine with much to reveal.
Growing Conditions
Simply put, the 2013 growing season was spectacular. An early bud break was followed by an extended stretch of warm weather that promoted rapid early season development while the dry conditions limited vigor in the vines. Nearly ideal conditions during flowering resulted in a great fruit set. Very warm and dry weather continued through the late spring and into the early summer establishing compact vines. And just when we began to have a few concerns about the extended stretch of warm weather, daytime temps came down a bit starting in the midsummer almost as if we ordered them, nicely slowing down ripening and allowing flavors to develop more deeply. These spectacular conditions continued through the end of the summer and deep into the autumn, allowing us to pick each batch of fruit at optimal maturity over the course of several weeks.
Aging
21 Months
100% French, 99% New, 1% Used
