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Tasting Notes
This is a rich, robust and complex wine with concentrated color. Savory notes of mineral and graphite present on the nose then merge with dark plum, dried cherry, cola, and dusty cocoa flavors. The finish is long and focused with plenty of structure in this “mountain-fruit” wine.
Vintage Notes
Harvest in 2016 started in the middle of August during a pattern of warm sunny days cooled by foggy mornings and breezy afternoons for most of the area. The early months of the year were very mild with little rain allowing the vines to progress steadily and uneventfully. Yields throughout the region were slightly below average but moderate weather starting in early summer gave the fruit plenty of time to develop great color and flavor, resulting in beautifully balanced wines.
Vineyard Notes
We’ve sourced Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from vineyards located 1,900 feet above Lake Sonoma in the Rockpile appellation, one of California’s newest and most admired appellations. With only about 160 planted acres, Rockpile is also one of the smallest AVAs in the United States. Climbing up the northern border of Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile’s high elevation, extreme terrain, and unique climate make it an exceptional grape-growing region producing remarkable, concentrated fruit.
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, 75% new. The wine is kept in a barrel for 20 months before final blending.
WINEMAKER
COLLECTION
GRAPE VARIETIES
15% Petit Verdot
4% Malbec
