Nose
The nose displays layers of
perfume, homemade strawberry jam, cranberry and baking spices.
Palate
On the palate
the cabernet sauvignon takes the lead with flavors of black cherry and citrus,
underscored by hints of peat, tea leaves and spicy oak. Throughout it all, a lovely
streak of natural acidity adds poise and definition to the rich flavors, carrying this
age-worthy wine to lush, focused finish.
Growing Conditions
2014 delivered abundant spring heat, leading to early
budbreak and flowering. To address the heat, which continued through summer,
we tailored our irrigation, crop size and shading to the needs of the vineyard. In
the run up to harvest, Mother Nature delivered ideal temperate weather, which
allowed us to pick exactly when we wished.
Harvest
Our 174 Clone syrah was picked on
September 18th at 24.1 ̊ Brix and a pH of 3.73 and our Noir Clone syrah was
picked September 26th at 24.3 ̊ Brix and a pH of 3.79. Our cabernet sauvignon
was picked between September 29 and October 2 at 25.1 Brix, with a pH of 3.79.
Bottling
Bottled unfined.
Winemaking
After de-stemming, the uncrushed fruit was gravity-transferred to
wooden Taransaud fermentation tanks. Both the cabernet sauvignon and syrah
were individually fermented. To manage the tannins, the cabernet spent 19 days
on the skins, and the syrah spent 16 days. Only free-run wine was selected for
this bottling, which was made from the finest lots of our Phinny Hill harvest
Aging
The
wine was aged for 19 months in 100% French oak barrels, with 37% of the total
being new.