Production Notes
Varietal Content
80% Syrah, 18% Grenache
2% Carignan
Cooperage
16 months in oak
100% French oak
20% new, 80% second vintage
Winemaker Notes
The aromas are alluringly dark and spicy with layers of blackberry, roast coffee, white pepper, dried sage and earth. A smooth, supple texture and beautifully integrated tannins support lush dark fruit flavors, as well as notes of lavender, violet and sage. The finish is long and lingering, offering ripe berries and hints of creamy vanilla.
Production
One of the coolest growing seasons in memory. To counteract uneven vine growth, we did meticulous green thinning, gently opened up the canopy to expose the fruit, were judicious in our picking schedule and sorted meticulously both in the vineyards and winery. Due to our quality adjustments the remainder of our fruit fared well despite the October rains. Warm up-valley locations like Oakville, Rutherford, St, Helena and Calistoga were particularly successful, and overall the resulting wines are pure and elegant.