Santa Rita Hills
Although it may
not seem like it, winemaking can be arduous. We spend most of the year working
with our growers to get them to do everything just right, then at harvest there
is only a moment in time to capture the grapes at their peak. For the
winemaker, the real work begins as the grapes come in from the field--worrying
over every one of the thousand decisions that ultimately determine how the wine
works out. Being so intimately involved with a wine for so long I’m ready to
take a break from it after bottling, and sometimes avoid tasting it for a while
to gain a little perspective.
This is one of
those wines that I hadn’t tasted for close to a year, so I was taken by surprise
with its dramatic aroma! It’s all coffee and exotic spices presented in a
forward, sexy way. It’s so alluring! The flavors are just as compelling,
balancing richness and concentration with vintage 2005’s best attributes:
freshness and liveliness. Sure, it could use more time in the bottle, but it is
a pleasure to drink today.
