2023 Estate Opulence

Elegant Bordeaux Blend

• Varieties:
  33% Cab Franc
  22% Merlot
  18% Malbec
  15% Cab Sauvignon
  12% Petit Verdot
• Appellation:
  Paso Robles -Templeton Gap
• Average brix at harvest:
  24.8
• Vineyard:
  Estate
• Alcohol:
  13.6%
• Acidity:
  0.766 g/100ml
• pH:
  3.32
• Residual sugar:
  0.02g/100ml
• Date bottled:
  September 23, 2025
• Cases produced:
  250
• Retail Price:
  $ 40.00

Growing conditions:
Finally! Mother nature ended the drought with 200% of normal rainfall combined with a cool spring and warm (not hot) summer led to the latest harvest ever at Victor Hugo! Judicious thinning allowed the grapes to be harvested at optimum maturity producing beautiful wines.

Winemaking:
After hand harvesting, the grapes were crushed then innoculated 24 hours later with D254 yeast and spent an average of 14 days on the skins prior to pressing, Different varietal lots were barrel aged separately for 16 months prior to selecting the final blend. Total barrel aging was 22 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels.

Tasting notes:
Intense, complicated, and rich. Aromatics emanating from the multi-varietal blending include hints of black cherries, dark chocolate, and violet are intertwined with spicy oak. Flavors are deep and rich with layers of pleasantly assertive tannins, rich fruit and toasty oak. The finish is lush with piquant acidity ensuring excellent aging potential.

Cellaring:
While enjoyable currently, this multidimensional Bordeaux blend will continue to improve with proper cellaring for another 6-10 years in the bottle with a plateau of best drinkability from 2030-2038.

Food selection:
This supple, complex wine will enhance elegant beef selections such as filet or prime rib as well as more
exotic game selections.