Every vintage and harvest presents a unique set of obstacles, and we approach every year ready to face the challenge. Vintage 2017 began with restorative rains that replenished soils, supported vine growth and fortified our vineyards through bud break. A late-August heat wave caused harvest to pick up at a rapid pace. October was marked by wildfires in the North Coast, but thankfully, much of the area’s grapes were already picked, leaving the wine quality unaffected. Despite it being a tumultuous year, we saw an abundant harvest with above normal yields that gave our winemakers beautiful fruit and the opportunity to develop wines with depth and character. “We add a touch of Malbec to the blend to develop a softness in the tannins, making this a smooth and seamless wine. These mouthwatering tannins surround the palate, framing layered elements of bright blueberry, toasty oak and deliciously rich mocha. In crafting this wine, our goal is to achieve perfect balance, with well-integrated vanilla oak notes and a lengthy, elegant finish.” – Stephanie Pope, Winemaker