2021 Estate Hunchback

Red Table Blend

• Varieties:
  41% Merlot
  24%% Tannat
  20% Cab Franc
  15% Zinfandel
  
  
• Appellation:
  Paso Robles -Templeton Gap
• Average brix at harvest:
  24.6
• Vineyard:
  Estate
• Alcohol:
  13.9%
• Acidity:
  0.65 g/100 ml
• pH:
  3.40
• Residual sugar:
  0.02g/100ml
• Date bottled:
  July 28, 2023
• Cases produced:
  391
• Retail Price:
  $ 22.00

Growing conditions:
Another drought year with 90% of our total rainfall occurring during the last week of January. An unusual frost in late May resulted in a smaller fruit set. The lighter crop coupled with a long warm summer led to the earliest finish to harvest at Victor Hugo, with a smaller harvest with excellent quality.

Winemaking:
After hand harvesting, the grapes were crushed then inoculated 24 hours later with FX-10 yeast and spent an average of 14 days on the skins prior pressing. Different varietal lots were barrel aged separately for 15 months in seasoned French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels then blended and bottled after 4 more months in barrels.

Tasting notes:
Delicious! Complex, inviting aromas are created by multi-varietal blending. Hints of violets, wild strawberries are intertwined with subtle oak. Flavors are extended and rich with layers of round, rich tannins coupled with hints of oak. The finish is rich and lasting which enables additional aging.

Cellaring:
While enjoyable currently, this supple red blend will continue to improve with proper cellaring for another 3-6 years in the bottle with a plateau of best drinkability from 2025-2032.

Food selection:
This rich, layered wine will enhance hearty beef dishes, ripe cheeses as well as pastas with spicy sauces.