Fairly dry spring brought on bud break a couple of weeks earlier than usual and the early development continued through flowering, veraison, harvest. Growing conditions were perfect throughout the summer. Grapes had a long hanging time to achieve full maturity and concentrate flavors. 2016 show pure and polished tannins with good acidity to age well. It’s an outstanding vintage.

State-of-the-art reception line with vibrating tables throughout to minimize impact. Berries are meticulously sorted by hand and the advanced “Mistral” wind system leaving only the highest in quality. Small lot fermentation in thermoregulated stainless steel tanks with 5 days of cold soak followed by alcoholic fermentation. MLF follows in the barrel. 18 months in French Oak barrels sourced from the finest forests of central France. 70% are new barrels from a mix of world-class coopers with an array of toast profiles.

2016 is a legendary vintage for Californian wines. The combination of weather and our hillside vineyard exposure was perfect for growing our grapes and give us the ability to wait for the optimal picking conditions. They arrived in pristine conditions at our winery. Translucent dark red, fresh subtle oak, and full berries flavors.Crisp and invigorating at first, then more plummy, hints of spice, mouth-filling without force, gracefully tailored with silky tannins. Hard to resist. Great balance between power and elegance. Very appealing in its youth but will age beautifully over the next decade. We loved its precision and elegance.