2012 Estate Hunchback

Red Table Blend

• Varieties:
  42% Malbec
  25% Syrah
  18% Petite Sirah
  15% Zinfandel
• Appellation:
  Paso Robles
• Average brix at harvest:
  24.2
• Vineyard:
  Estate
• Alcohol:
  13.4%
• Acidity:
  0.72 g/100 ml
• pH:
  3.59
• Residual sugar:
  0.04 g/100 ml
• Date bottled:
  December 05, 2014
• Cases produced:
  510
• Retail Price:
  $ 18.00

Growing conditions:
FINALLY! 2012 HAD RELATIVELY NORMAL CONDITIONS, MINIMAL APRIL FROST, WARM TO HOT DAYS/COOL NIGHTS IN JULY AND AUGUST THEN A MILD INDIAN SUMMER IN LATE SEPT/EARLY OCT. EARLY INDICATIONS ARE THAT 2012 IS THE BEST VINTAGE SINCE 2007 AND POSSIBLY SINCE THE FAMOUS 1997 VINTAGE.

Winemaking:
After hand harvesting, the grapes were crushed then inoculated 24 hours later with D80 yeast and spent an average of 13 days on the skins prior pressing. Different varietal lots were barrel aged separately for 22 months in seasoned French, American, and Hungarian oak barrels then blended and bottled after 7 more months in barrels.

Tasting notes:
Delicious! Complex, inviting aromas are created by multi-varietal blending. Hints of ripe plums, berries, and sage 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 2015-2018.

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