Winemaker Notes
The fruit was hand harvested at dawn to retain the freshness and integrity of the clusters. Gravity-fed to an open top stainless steel fermenter, we took a significant saignèe for concentration. Punch-downs continued for two weeks during the co-fermentation, and we pressed at dryness. The wine was aged for 15 months in 40% new French oak barrels. No fining, and lightly filtered.
Blend: 84% Grenache, 16% Mourvédre
Professional Ratings
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Wine Enthusiast
Winemaker Kale Anderson combines 84% Grenache with 16% Mourvèdre in this brooding, velvety thick red. Firm tannins provide a foundation for dark-cherry, plum and smoked meat flavors to glide across the palate, with bright undertones of acidity contributing elusive freshness.
Undoubtedly proving its merit over and over, Napa Valley is a now a leading force in the world of prestigious red wine regions. Though Cabernet Sauvignon dominates Napa Valley, other red varieties certainly thrive here. Important but often overlooked include Merlot and other Bordeaux varieties well-regarded on their own as well as for their blending capacities. Very old vine Zinfandel represents an important historical stronghold for the region and Pinot noir is produced in the cooler southern parts, close to the San Pablo Bay.
Perfectly situated running north to south, the valley acts as a corridor, pulling cool, moist air up from the San Pablo Bay in the evenings during the hot days of the growing season, which leads to even and slow grape ripening. Furthermore the valley claims over 100 soil variations including layers of volcanic, gravel, sand and silt—a combination excellent for world-class red wine production.