Winemaker Notes
This alluring co-fermentation of Syrah, Grenache and Viognier reveals sophisticated aromas of cocoa, coffee bean, allspice, nutmeg, sandalwood and black tea, with hints of sweet purple flowers. On the palate, flavors of ripe plum and red licorice are framed by supple, fine-grained tannins, with notes of cracked pepper and dark chocolate adding drama to a long, satisfying finish.
Production
The 2020 growing season began with a relatively dry, mild winter followed by a dry, temperate spring, which resulted in an early April budbreak. The weather throughout spring and summer was even and warm, offering numerous clear, sun-filled days. In September, the weather turned hot, providing the grapes a final push towards optimal ripeness and flavor development. While the overall weather was exceptional for growing grapes, yielding wines with excellent structures and ripe, voluptuous flavors, the impact of the 2020 California wildfires required us to be exacting in our grape selection process, excluding any fruit that did not meet our standards. As a result, while our overall yields were down in 2020, we are extremely proud of the lush, opulent wines that we were able to craft from this vintage.