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Montecillo Vineyard
Tasting Notes
The “cinnamon dust” soil of this established Sonoma Valley vineyard delivers an elaborate bouquet of savory spices. Licorice and tamarind entwine with rich bittersweet chocolate and citrus zest, leading to a bright berry-like accent in the middle palate. A dry acidity combines with textural tannins to create a long velvety finish.
Vintage Notes
2018 provided an ideal climate allowing time for the grapes to ripen to their optimum flavor structure. The year presented a fairly mild growing season with few heat spikes, inspiring winemakers to push harvest back a few weeks. This longer time on the vine was great for grapes and the mild temperatures kept the fruit from over-ripening. More than an inch of rain fell in early October in many locations, but there was little impact on the quality of the fruit. 2018 could be remembered as one of the longest and most desirable seasons in years, producing exceptional quality grapes throughout Sonoma County.
Vineyard Notes
This vineyard is split into three distinct blocks: Terraces, Head Trained, and Trellised. Each block is fermented independently to showcase the unique characteristics of its micro-climate. Short cold-soaks are used to promote aroma development, followed by an easy slow fermentation to balance out the mouthfeel. The lots are then racked to barrel on their fine lees to undergo malolactic in 40% new French oak. Halfway through aging, the blend is made according to taste and texture that reflects this very special site. The wine is then put back to barrel to complete 18 months of aging before bottling.
Winemaker Notes
Located in the Mayacamas Mountain range, the Montecillo Vineyard sits high on the western slope of the mountains overlooking Sonoma Valley. At 1400 feet elevation, the western exposure provides the heat and sunlight to ripen the Zinfandel vines and the well-drained soil contributes to smaller crops with highly concentrated, full-flavored fruit. The resulting wine is rich and lush.
WINEMAKER
COLLECTION
GRAPE VARIETIES
ALCOHOL
CASES PRODUCED
AGING
Bottling Date
Barrel
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Accolades
92 Points | Wine Spectator
91 Points | Connoisseur's Guide
Accolades
91 Pts | Wine Spectator | March 2021
98 Pts | International Women's Wine Competition | May 2021
Best of Class | International Women's Wine Competition | May 2021
Double Gold Medal | International Women's Wine Competition | May 2021
Accolades
93 Points | Jeb Dunnuck | June 2018
90 Points | Wine Enthusiest | September 2018
90 Points | The Wine Advocate | August 2018
90 Points | Wine Spectator | April 2018
Accolades
93 Pts | Wine Enthusiast
92 Pts | Wine Spectator
Gold | San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
Accolades
93 Points | Wine Advocate
91 Points | The Tasting Panel
Accolades
96 Points | Sunset International Wine Competition | July 2020
92 Points | Wine Spectator | Feb 2020
Best of Class | Sunset International Wine Competition | July 2020
Double Gold Medal | Sunset International Wine Competition | July 2020
Accolades
93 Points | Wine Advocate
Gold Medal | SF Chronicle Wine Competition
Accolades
90 pts | Wine Spectator
90 pts | Wine Enthusiast
Accolades
91 Points & Gold Medal | Harvest Challenge