Vineyard
The 2021 vintage was produced from fruit grown on the western bench of Dry Creek Valley, 200 feet above the valley floor. The vineyard experiences cool, foggy mornings and warm days. Because there is a substantial difference between daytime and nighttime temperatures, the growing season lasts longer, so the grapes mature slowly allowing intense flavor development.
Winemaking
Hand-harvested on September 18, 2021, at 25.9 degrees brix, the fruit was gently crushed and destemmed, and fermented 10 days to dryness. Following pressing, the wine was clarified naturally by settling and then moved to small oak cooperage where it aged for 16 months. We used a blend of sixty-gallon French oak barrels to both enhance and complement the wonderful berry aromas.