Accolades
96 Points | Harvest Challenge
92 Points | Wine & Spirits
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92 Pts. | Jeb Dunnuck
Tasting Notes
Sleek and velvety, this cabernet-driven, Bordeaux-style blend offers alluring aromas of currant, espresso, rosehip, and spice on the nose. The elegant palate opens with flavors of ripe blackberry, succulent plum, and creme de cassis. Notes of cacao, clove and vanilla emerge behind a silky and rich mouthfeel. Enjoy as the soft mid-body transitions into a luxurious finish of cool graphite, juicy black fruit and refined tannins.
Vintage Notes
The 2021 growing season saw near-perfect growing conditions. With minimal winter rain, the vines were awakened with ideal moderate springtime temperatures, eliminating any frost threat to the developing buds. At most sites, fruit set was during the optimal timeframe due to warm, consistent conditions. Veraison occurred 7-10 days earlier than in previous years due to the temperate weather and minimal rain. Moderate daytime temperatures and cool nights throughout the summer months, with a few of the regular short-lived heat spikes, allowing for excellent flavor development. The year saw an early harvest, with 90% of the region’s grapes being picked before the late Fall.
Vineyard Notes
For this Meritage blend, Winemaker Chris Louton sourced fruit from our Certified Sustainable Estate Vineyards. The Merlot comes from our Behler Vineyard (14%) located in Sonoma Valley, while the Cabernet Sauvignon comes from our Lagomarsino Vineyard in the Russian River Valley (86%).
Winemaker Notes
All grapes are gently de-stemmed before cold-soaking for two days to extract optimal color and flavor. The fruit is fermented in separate lots, allowing each lot to be individually and distinctly crafted before being aged in French oak barrels, 40% new. The wine is kept 20 months in barrel before final blending.
WINEMAKER
COLLECTION
GRAPE VARIETIES
86% CABERNET SAUVIGNON
14% MERLOT
14% MERLOT
ALCOHOL
14.9 %
CASES PRODUCED
825
AGING
20 Months
Bottling Date
August 2023
Barrel
FRENCH OAK, 40% NEW
