Winemaker Notes

A bright brilliant yellow straw color. Brilliant golden hue. A vintage of a decade. Attractive aromas of honeysuckle, citrus Meyer lemon zest alongside ripe yellow pear, red delicious apple, nectarine, ripe guava, and backbone of mineral quality each layered into a luscious, balanced wine. The secondary flavors of yellow pear, guava, orange curd is generous and satisfying. Soft, elegant acidity lends focus and tantalizing length across the palate into a luscious medium finish. Distinctive and age worthy.

Climate and Harvest

2018 began with a cool winter with normal to average rainfall with spring appearing in late March. Spring arrived four weeks later than 2017. Floral set began about three weeks later than the previous with also smaller clusters with less than average crop size. Clusters grew evenly into June, when fruit set began where the clusters began developing evenly with many more berries per cluster yet remaining small. A cool summer prevailed which allowed for slower metabolism and more intense fruit flavors and tannin structure. Ideal for winemakers! August cooled, with tantalizing foggy mornings and night temperatures dipping into the mid-50s. 2018 developed into a growing season of a century.

Our intention is to reveal the tremendous character of our land and soils thru careful clonal selection. Night harvesting began at midnight pre-fermentation maturations occurred 24-hours in stainless allow skin contact for gentle tannins and mineral richness, whole cluster pressing. Inoculation occurred with slow fermenting yeast. Eleven months in French barriques of 9% new for sophisticated oak elegance, sur lie aging for texture alongside balance, weight and sophisticated aromatics. Cellar aged for 18 months upon release.