Raspberry leads on the nose, but quickly makes way for a complex earth and spice profile. Rosemary, white pepper, fresh tobacco leaf and dusty dark chocolate all politely take turns on the palette. A firm acidity makes this an extremely food friendly wine, but the rich fruit forwardness makes it perfectly enjoyable on its own. We think this will be the quintessential holiday wine. It will go with everything on the table from turkey to stuffing to gravy and cranberry sauce, spicy squash soups and smoked meats.

NOTES

Varietal: Primitivo
Vintage: 2019
Vineyard Designation: Sutherland Vineyard
Appellation: Sunol – Livermore Valley
Varietal Composition: 100% Primitivo
Alcohol: 14.5%

Vineyard
Sutherland Vineyard sits on a pristine slope in the Sunol Valley. This cooler weather area allows for a long ripening season with a climate more reminiscent of a coastal region rather than a warm valley floor.  Mild nights lead into warm sunny days and have resulted in nuanced and understated wines that will continue to evolve over the next several years.

Winemaking     
Harvested 9/28/19, these grapes, upon first glance, may come across both aesthetically and aromatically as “light.”  But the combination of multiple yeast strains, a mixed oak profile, and long cellar age time have resulted in a boldly nuanced wine that continues to develop layer after layer.

Fermentation   
Using two different yeast strains, 71B and RBS 133 – these yeasts partially metabolize malic acid, while enhancing the bold bright fruit of this varietal. This allowed for the firm upfront acidity of the wine to balance out, while allowing each of the other components of the wine to shine through

Aging   
Aged in 25% new Hungarian and 75% neutral American oak, this wine has developed a rich and complex spice profile, with a rich and toasty backbone.

Interests             
Country-pop crossovers, outdoor weddings, warm nights, camp fires, spoken word performances, and sipping while cooking.