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92 pts. | James Suckling

Tasting Notes

This bold red wine, crafted from fruit sourced in Sonoma County’s smallest AVA, Rockpile, unveils a fresh pepper note leading to an earthy bouquet featuring sweet carob root, allspice, and plum. The concentrated mid-palate delivers a velvety texture with pronounced flavors of sandalwood, raspberry, and black tea. This wine boasts dusty tannins hinting of nutmeg and savory baking spice, elevating the delicate finish that deepens as the wine breathes. Decanting is recommended to fully appreciate the intricate layers and bold expression of this exceptional wine.

Vintage Notes

Cooler temperatures and an abundance of spring rains in 2023 pushed back the first day of harvest to the beginning of September. The later start and extra ripening time for the fruit allowed flavors and color to develop slowly for depth and concentration. Warm fall days spread harvest out past the end of October for many of the red varieties, with a final pick of Merlot delivered to the winery on November 2.

Vineyard Notes

We’ve sourced Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot from vineyards located 1,900 feet above Lake Sonoma in the Rockpile appellation, one of California’s most admired appellations. With only about 160 planted acres, Rockpile is also one of the smallest AVAs in the United States. Climbing up the northern border of Dry Creek Valley, Rockpile’s high elevation, extreme terrain and unique climate make it an exceptional grape-growing region producing remarkable, concentrated fruit.

Winemaker Notes

All grapes are gently de-stemmed before cold-soaking for two days to extract optimal color and flavor. The fruit is fermented in separate lots, allowing each lot to be individually and distinctly crafted before being aged in French oak barrels, 50% new. The wine is kept in barrel for 15 months before final blending.