This vintage is primarily a Grenache based blend coming from our cool climate, Monterey County vineyards. The fruit adds rich black fruit flavors and a discreet spiciness. The Syrah for this vintage was sourced from the Coastview vineyard, a high elevation site (2,300 ft) in the granite and limestone rich soils of the Gabilan Moutain range. The cool climate Syrah provides an ample degree of tannin and dark fruit in the lower registers, with white pepper as a topnote. The non-irrigated, centenarian Del Barba vineyard of Contra Costa continues to provide Mourvèdre for Cigare. Cinsaut from the 120+ year old vines of the Bechtold vineyard provides a very particular fragrance of flowers and aromatic herbs.

The élevage for this wine is rather different from previous vintages, with a substantial portion of the volume deriving from Cigare aged in 5-gallon glass demijohns (bonbonnes), which were ultimately blended into the same wine that had reposed in 10,000 liter wood uprights and puncheons. Medium, vivid ruby color, with an incredibly lifted, ethereal floral aroma - almond blossoms, violets, sandalwood and wild strawberries, almost, dare I say, Burgundian in aspect. On the palate, a dreamy weightlessness (this is a good thing!), silky tannins and an enormously persistent finish. The kind of wine that drives wine aficionados to drink, being a wine of great charm, elegance and intelligence. With decanting (and time), the wine seems to grow in both body and depth. Certainly one of the most charming Cigares of memory. Pair with ahi tuna, pork tenderloin, and aged cheddar.