Winemaker’s Notes
Our 14-year-old Drake Estate Vineyard provides us with the majority of fruit for this flagship blend, which is crafted with primarily Pommard selections and then layered with Heritage clones like Swan, Mt. Eden, Martini and Wente. The nuances of blackberries, ripe cherries, Italian plums, Shitake mushrooms and crème brûlée fill your glass. The opulent and rich tannins are emphasized by the dark berry fruits and complement the lengthy, velvety and unctuous finish. These focused dark fruits and cherry cola flavors truly highlight the unique terrior expressions of the Russian River Valley. Very age worthy.

The Vineyards
The Pinot Noir for this blend was primarily sourced from our Drake Estate Vineyard, our Williams Selyem Estate Vineyard and the Bucher and Bacigalupi Vineyards.

Harvest 2012
Simply put, the 2012 vintage was amazing in many respects. After the cool growing seasons of 2010 and 2011, which resulted in excellent quality but very low yields, Mother Nature was smiling on us in 2012 with superb growing conditions for a bountiful harvest. The exceptional weather during the spring allowed for moderate vegetative growth, superb flowering conditions and an above average fruit set — berries and clusters sized up beyond original expectations. 2012 was a vintage where ripe mature stems, seeds and skin tannins were achieved with harmoniously balanced natural acidity. Enveloped with pure intense aromas, juicy flavors, and rich textures, these structured wines are clearly the result of a truly extraordinary vintage. A vintage like this, where everything comes together perfectly, is rare and will certainly be a vintage to enjoy for many years to come!

Technical Notes
Barrel Description: 40% new, 40% 1 year old, 20% 2 year old
Barrel Aged: 11 months
pH: 3.59
TA: 0.62g/100ml
Alc: 14.1%
Released Spring 2014
$52

Source: Winery web site

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