Justin Isosceles 2003

Subtle earthy tones combine with a hint of leather aromatically in this deep, inky black hued wine. The entry is soft and subtle with ample black fruit and coffee. Cherry, currant and a hint of plum evolve into layers of chocolate and caramel on the mid-palate. A soft, seamless finish is balanced by flavors of spicy French Oak.

The vintage began with the warmest winter since 1996. As a result, our grapevines began their growing season 2 weeks earlier than normal. A warm spring followed and in early June, temperatures began to climb and the ripening followed. A few cool spikes in late August allowed the vines to slow down and rest before the critical period prior to harvest. September and October followed with warm consistent weather that ripened our provided and microclimate to ripen the grapes evenly. Merlot, a thin-skinned grape variety was harvested in late September. Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon have much thicker skins, and need more time in the sun to ripen their well-structured tannins. Harvest for these two varieties took place in late October, just before the warm weather ceased.

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