Winemaker Notes

A deep brilliant garnet. A wine of elegance, refinement and plenty of vigor. Its delicate perfume of blackberries and black cherries coalesce­ with a backdrop of subtle oak notes. The palate has a velvety richness that coats the mouth in concentrated flavors of blackberries and cassis, laced with fine, elegant tannins from seamlessly integrated, new and used French oak from carefully chosen Tonnelleries. Rich flavors of chocolate, violets and dark fruits linger on the long finish.

Climate and Harvest

The 2015 growing season began with an early wet winter. Bud break arrived later than usual, setting a smaller than average crop with less dusters per vine. Spring proved to bring more rains and cool days throughout. The summer remained cool throughout with temperatures cooler than usual from a normal growing season. This year proved to bring us greater challenges and to test our winegrowing skills.

An early and light harvest, with smaller berries and concentrated fruit flavors. With higher temperatures in August and early September, the vines accelerated in maturity and harvest dates. Yields were 25 percent lower on average. Overall, there were more mild acids, moderate to low alcohols and intense aromatics in all our varieties. A vintage of exceptional quality.