BY WINEMAKER FREDRIK JOHANSSON

The 2010 growing season was challenging, uneven and hard to predict with a wet and cool spring, a beautiful June, a foggier and cooler than normal summer that culminated in the seismic heat-spike of late August followed by two additional spikes in late-September and mid-October. As always, Richard and the crew were up for the challenge and presented me with fruit of a superb quality that earlier in the year I doubted possible. The one casualty of the vintage was yield – 2010 turned out to be our smallest crop ever. We again fermented some of this wine in French Oak puncheons to help us build mid-palate richness, add complexity and a touch more structure.

The slightly cooler conditions of 2010 produced a fresh, lifted version of this wine with aromas of kirsch and Bing cherries spiced by cedar and black pepper. The pristine palate is lively with redcurrant and black cherries accented by a pinch of cinnamon and baking spice. The finely grained tannins and generous acidity give this more pinot-like Sangiovese an immediate charm and graceful length.

Release Date: March 1, 2012
Harvest Dates: October 9
Fermentation: 70% in Stainless Steel & 30% in Oak Puncheons
Barrel Aging: 16 months
Oak: 100% French: 69% new, 31% used
Blend: 100% Sangiovese
Alcohol: 14.8%

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