Winemaker Notes
Beautifully dark and dramatic, this wine draws you in with luxurious aromas of blackberry, black cherry, cola, chocolate, graham cracker and fig. The dark berry fruit is echoed on the palate, where it mingles with flavors of creme de cassis, mocha and black tea, with lustrous tannins and bright acidity carrying the flavors to a long, rich finish.
Production
In terms of overall weather, most of the 2020 growing season was excellent. Following a relatively dry winter, budbreak started early, and the temperatures throughout spring and summer were mild and temperate. This allowed the grapes to ripen slowly, developing pure, vibrant flavors and supple, fleshy textures. In late September, harvest was impacted by the outbreak of wildfires and the arrival of hot weather. The elevated temperatures gave many vineyards a final push to ripeness as we worked to bring in the grapes. During this period, we did extensive testing to ensure quality, excluding any fruit that did not meet our standards. While our meticulous selection process resulted in a smaller 2020 crop, the wines we produced live up to the Duckhorn name, displaying beautiful aromas, soft elegant textures, lively complexity and lush flavors.