HARVESTED: September 4 – October 24, 2021
VINEYARD: Santa Cruz Mountains
SOILS: loamy clay
BOTTLED: April 2023, 575 cases
COMPOSITION: 100% Cabernet Sauvignon
ALCOHOL: 13.8%
WINEMAKER: Charlie Miller
VINEYARD MANAGER: Thayer Dunwoody
VINTAGE NOTES
2021 vintage was truly a postcard vintage! The continued severe drought had a predictable (and not bad) effect: the berries themselves were smaller, which generally means smaller crops, smaller clusters but concentrated, high-quality wines. The growing season started earlier in the year – also drought-related – so the harvest started sooner and moved faster than usual. The post-veraison period was warm but mostly moderated, leading to steady and very even ripening. Vintages of such magnitude generally deliver wines with great transparency to the vineyard.
WINEMAKING NOTES
Grape clusters were hand picked, destemmed, sorted, and fermented in small 1-2 ton lots. Left on skins for an average of two weeks and punched down manually twice a day before gently pressing to French Oak (15% new). Aged in barrel for 16 months with regular topping and careful SO2 management for optimal expression of Santa Cruz Mountains terroir. Bottled unfined, unfiltered.
TASTING NOTES
Ripe blackberry fruit entry, full bodied, rich textures, exotic spice and toasted oak. Bold notes of cassis, blueberry, cola, plum and sweet oak. Mid palate is structured with a lively acid, fruit driven profile. Complex, long, and textured yet refined finish.
CELLARING
Enjoy now or over the next 5-7 years.