WINEMAKER NOTESUpon hand harvesting, our Malbec was carefully destemmed and sent to tank for a whole berry fermentation. The fermentation temperature never went above 82°F, which allowed for a warm extraction from the skins. After fermentation and pressing, the wine went to 55% new French oak, 45% neutral French oak barrels, aging for 20 months. The final blend is 99% Malbec and 1% Merlot. This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
THE VINTAGEAlthough the 2021 vintage had little rain on record for the Napa Valley, drought years have typically proven to be excellent quality for wines, but obviously not great for long-term farming plans. The season started off with bud break in early March, leading to a Spring that allowed for a perfect flowering and set for the grape clusters. Summer was also quite warm and long, leading into an early Autumn harvest season. The drought conditions led to lower yields in the vineyard, which gave a perfect concentration for juice versus skin ratio. The consistent summer weather encouraged our Malbec grapes to ripen in late September.
WINE FACTSWinemaker: Jason Moulton Appellation: Napa ValleyBlend: 99% Malbec, 1% MerlotAlcohol: 14.8%
