GROWING SEASON AND VINEYARDS:
The 2018 growing season in Paso Robles was mild and uneventful. Plenty of sunshine, consistently warm, dry days followed by fog and coastal influences and cool temperatures at night ensured even fruit development with little variation throughout vineyard blocks. The fruit for this Reserve is sourced from three distinguished vineyards: Estrella River Ranch, Cass and San Juan North. The well-drained alluvial and sandy loam soils combined with the vineyards’ deep inland locations create the ideal terroir for intensely flavored wines with depth of flavor, excellent structure and naturally balanced acidity.
WINEMAKING:
Fruit was harvested in the cool morning, brought to the winery and sorted using optical sorter. The perfect whole berries were then delivered to stainless steel tanks and cold soaked for several days. Wine was fermented on the skins in small lots with 5% barrel fermented. Fermentation was managed by pump overs for maximum extraction of color and flavor. The lots were then individually pressed o and settled before transferring into French oak barrels (40% new), where the wine was aged for 24 months.
TASTING NOTES:
Seductively deep and vibrant brick red with hues of crimson, this Reserve possesses aromas of purple flowers, red cherries, cassis, cedar, warm gravel and graphite. With time, the nose on this wine continues to evolve, revealing plum, leather and tobacco accents. The palate is youthful and vibrant, balancing on the lighter side of blue and black fruits and berries. A second sip introduces cherry candy and wet rock minerality. A third sip brings forest floor bramble and dried herb notes. The wine is in constant motion, playfully dancing across the palate until it dissolves into dusty, fine tannins.
- COMPOSITION: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
- COOPERAGE: Aged 24 months in 40% new French oak
- ACIDITY: 6.7 g/L
- pH: 3.84
- ALCOHOL: 14.8%
- ** Only 4 in Stock **