Palate

The 2017 Pirouette has an expressive nose with a firm core of dark fruit and mocha flavors, displaying a layered concentration of black cherry and well-integrated oak spices. Vibrant and full-bodied across the mid-palate, this is a texturally pleasing wine with a broad and lengthy finish.

Growing Conditions

A cool, wet spring delayed budbreak by a few weeks, but temperatures warmed nicely for bloom. Conditions moderated in early summer before warming again in July to drive total heat accumulation a bit above average for the season.

Harvest

Harvest began toward the end of August, then temperatures cooled considerably in mid-September to extend hang time and allow the grapes to reach full physiological maturity without spiking sugars. The resulting wines are rich and expressive, displaying excellent acidity and structure that is reflective of the quality of the vintage.

Winemaking

As with previous vintages, hand-harvested grapes underwent a variety of fermentation techniques to build layers of complexity and richness in the final blend.

Aging

The finished wine was aged 22 months in French oak barrels (85% new) before bottling, unfiltered, and unfined.