Winemaker Notes
What complexity… Aromas of star anise, bacon, licorice root, cocoa, blackberry, sandalwood, camphor and apple blossom are simply engulfing. This wine possesses deep umami character and flavors of smoked paprika, ginseng and cherry liqueur. It is seamlessly integrated, beefy and graceful all at once. It’s velvety and heady; finishing with plush, candied violet and lingers on and on. A truly captivating wine.
Production
In 2013 we saw decreasing yields due to the second year of a drought with only 6.5 inches of rain for the entire season. Warm spring temperatures brought on an early bud break, but fortunately remained warm with no threats of frost. The summer months were fairly mild with abundant sunshine allowing us to pick the grapes with high acid and mature flavors.
We picked the Selleck vineyard in two separate passes on September 24th and October 4th. Each lot was pressed 14 days after harvest, racked by gravity to French oak barrels, then aged without racking in those barrels, 30% new, for eighteen months. The lots were then combined and the resultant wine was bottled without filtration, as always.