Winemaker Notes
This is an intense, full-bodied wine with great density and tight layers that take time to evolve. On the nose, an initial impression of sweet black licorice gives way to notes of blueberry, violet, eucalyptus, hazelnut, fresh dough and a touch of menthol. With decanting, the flavors are vivid and deep, highlighting seductive blue fruit elements. A wine of strength and honor!
Production
Though the 2008 growing season presented certain challenges—from early frosts to drought conditions—a meticulous approach to viticulture and sorting yielded small crops with good concentration, highlighting soft, appealing tannins for our red varietals and bright acidity for our white grapes. A long, moderately cool summer led to a harvest that commenced in mid-August and concluded in early November. This relatively relaxed pace allowed us to pick in numerous passes to ensure quality, often focusing on individual rows or a single side of the vines.