2017 Reserve Red
Available
321 Cases Produced
Tasting Notes
The wine shines in the glass with a garnet red hue. An immediate ascent of violet, musk, and tomato leaf laced with star anise, cinnamon, and orange zest on the nose. Followed by the classic sweet plum and mulberry notes of the mountain-based Napa merlot. The palate is polished and highly stylized. It is succulent, yet still linear with darker fruits, iodine, and pencil shavings. The mid-palate is taught, enigmatic, and loaded with exquisite Napa Valley black, red and dark fruits. Finishes hedonistic, engaging, and assertive. The ideal temperature for serving is 67°F, don’t hesitate to decant for more immediate desire. Serve in a generous fine cut red Bordeaux glass!
Blend
68.7% Cabernet Sauvignon, Blend of Beckstoffer Vineyard Georges III and Red Hen Vineyard; 30%
Merlot, Nine Suns/Houyi Vineyard; 1.3%
Petit Verdot, Sage Ridge Canyon
Aged
Aged 22 months in 93% New French Oak from Taransaud and Sylvain Cooperages
Alcohol %
14.7
Winemaker
Helen Keplinger
Winemaker Notes
Both our Cabernet and Merlot were destemmed and lightly crushed in a pneumatic press.
Bottled Unfined and Unfiltered
Harvest Date
Harvested in October 2017
Agro Ad Amphorum
Latin Translation: From Soil to Bottle
A heartbreaking year given the fires and the mass destruction in Sonoma and our friends in Napa. A vintage with a very heavy heart. 2017 growing season began with sustained rainfall throughout January and February, replenishing soil nutrients and resulting in healthy, vigorous vines. Budbreak in mid-March was on time. A summer of gradual warmth indicated a textbook growing season until July when we experienced a period of sustained warmth. August delivered much-needed cooler weather, allowing the clusters to develop complex flavors while maintaining their signature acidity. Summer was late and hot and spiked the fruit to brighter deeper flavors and textures, all along retaining the amazing acidity we need for our Pinot Noir! In good fortune, we harvested days before the fires began.