Description

Syrah 56%, Ancient-vine Cinsault 38%, Verdelho 6%   

The Vintage: A severe drought year in California and a very early season. Early bud-break followed by an early bloom caused by a warm spring with a few heat spikes. Harvested on August 6th at an average 21.9 Brix. The grapes this year were homogeneously ripe and clean of any mildew or rot.  Whole-cluster pressed and fermented in open-top plastic bins.  Aged on the primary lees in neutral oak barrel until the bottling day (3/10/14). Bottled by gravity unfined/unfiltered.

 

The wine: Medium bodied, compact and well concentrated, it has intense (red) fruit & spice flavors, bright acidity and great aromatic purity alongside its distinctive rustic edge. With time/air, it relaxes in the glass to show a creamy mid-palate and increasing complexity and detail. Extremely versatile with foods: would work as well at a picnic setting as at an elegant candle-lit dinner. (Fall 2014)

Alcohol: 13.4%. Total sulfites (added at bottling): 20ppm.

2013 Yield: 2.5 tons per acre. Total Production: 1494 Bottles.