Winemaker Notes

This vintage truly speaks to our land and soils at Garden Creek. The 2010 vintage is a concentrated pure wine from our family property. With the careful and decisive selection of lots chosen within soil variations (of 13 total on the property), each varietal is vinified separately Each year the lots chosen (8 - 2010 lots vinified) are crafted by indigenous yeast, alongside gentle hand punch downs. On the palate the texture is silky, velvety with an elegance and richness exuding the lush ripe Alexander Valley flavors of black berry and red fruits of cassis flavors crafted with robust, powerful, yet elegant soil driven tannins. The 2010 exudes blackberry; dark chocolate and dry herbs sharing a long, elegant finish.

Climate and Harvest

In 2010 we experienced a cool, moderate growing season that ended with early wet October rains. An unusually wet spring developed into a dry summer, with moderate temperatures than had been seen in the previous year. Budbreak was normal with a touch of warm weather in March, yet more wet weather in late Spring delayed bloom for two to three weeks. Summers cool temperatures extended the growing season and allowed the grapes to ripen and mature slowly. Harvest was two weeks later than usual, the end result of ripe flavors which proved to become an exemplary wine. Our vineyard choices remain driven by the year with a selection of winegrape flavors for the Tesserae managed by strict canopy and soil management. The Olive Hill including all four corners with a largest portion pulled from the East block. Otherwise, portions of the House Block, Pomo Block and Ny Block. This is the second year for Malbec which brought a level of intense plum, rustic intensity, and forward tannins. Another excellent component to the final blend.