Following a near-perfect growing season, grapes were hand-picked from 33 year old vines on our Uley Vineyard on March 2 at a Baumé of 13.6 degrees.
After cooling overnight, the grapes were destemmed into small open fermenters with about 30% being included as whole bunches. Cold maceration for 3 days was followed by inoculation and fermentation with regular hand plunging throughout. Gently pressed off skins after 10 days and partially settled in tank, the wine was transferred to new and used French oak barriques for malolactic fermentation and maturation. Bottled March 2, 2017. Unfiltered and unfined, Alc/Vol14.0%.
Varietal aromas of dark cherry, berry and plum are complexed with smoky, earthy, forest floor and savoury characters. The palate reproduces the sweet cherry and berry fruits, adding spiciness and soft, silky tannins which support a lingering, expanding finish to the wine.
