Growing Conditions

In 2017, higher than average rainfall brought the five year drought to an end. A cool and rainy winter tallied 30 inches of rain by the end of February. With March and April came sunshine and even more showers. A hotter than average summer made us all very grateful for the previous winter’s rain. Harvest progressed rapidly during a heat wave in late August and early September. Temperatures cooled mid-September, slowing the harvest pace and allowing red grapes to ripen gradually.

Harvest

September 6th - October 3rd, 2017

Bottling

May 7th, 2017

Winemaking

The 2017 High Road was co-fermented in 3 lots of which 35% was whole cluster. After careful hand sorting, the grapes went through 3 - 5 days of maceration followed by natural fermentation. They then spent 21 - 30 days on skins before being basket pressed. 25% of the wine rested in new French oak, 50% puncheon and 50% barrique.