2020 Estate "Contemplations"

Tannat based blend

• Varieties:
  45% Tannat
  30% Merlot
  15% Malbec
  10% Cab Franc
  
• Appellation:
  Paso Robles - Templeton Gap District
• Average brix at harvest:
  25.3
• Vineyard:
  Estate
• Alcohol:
  14.3%
• Acidity:
  0.68 g/100 ml
• pH:
  3.48
• Residual sugar:
  0.01g/100ml
• Date bottled:
  September 15, 2021
• Cases produced:
  98
• Retail Price:
  $ 34.00

Growing conditions:
Minimal winter rainfall until a wet March averted an extreme drought. No frost events but windy conditions during bloom led to a smaller fruit set. The lighter crop coupled with a long warm summer led to an outstanding earlier, small harvest with excellent quality.

Winemaking:
The grapes were hand harvested, then crushed into stainless fermentors. 24 hours later the must was inoculated with D80 yeast then pumped over daily for an average of 16 days prior to pressing. After completion of malolactic fermentaion, this proprietary blend was aged for 24 months in French and Hungarian oak prior to bottling.

Tasting notes:
This tannat based blend provides a multi-varietal blend is intense and complex and rich. Hint of blueberries and cherries with dark chocolate. Flavors are deep and rich with assertive tannins, rich fruit and toasty oak with excellent aging potential.

Cellaring:
While enjoyable currently, this multidimensional tannat based blend will continue to improve with proper cellaring for another 7-12 years in the bottle with best drinkability from 2027-2034.

Food selection:
This complex assertive wine will enhance a variety of beef dishes, venison, lamb shank as well as spicy dishes.