Production Notes
Varietal Content 90% Merlot, 9% Cabernet Sauvignon, 1% Cabernet Franc Cooperage 100% French Oak Château-style Barrels (60 Gallons) Barrel Aging: 15 Months Age of Barrels: 25% new, 75% second vintage
Winemaker Notes
With firm tannins and exceptional length, this is a lovely and age-worthy wine that shows how much Merlot can excel in a cooler growing season. The aromas are rich and inviting with layers of amaretto, sweet spice and cedar. On the palate, lush flavors of plum, blackberry and cherry dominate, with the tannins adding structure and depth.
Production
Due to a wet spring and mild growing season the 2010 harvest started 2 weeks later than we would normally expect. Later, milder seasons tend to result in wines of fine elegance and balanced natural acidity. This is exactly what we see in our white wines and the best reds from superior locations. During harvest the conditions (a strong heat wave and then significant late rains), caused us to be very diligent in the vineyards fine tuning the fruit and making timely picking decisions. In the winery we took precautions to be respectful to the characteristics of the fruit and feel that has resulted in wines of character and intrigue.