2015 Estate Opulence

Elegant Bordeaux Blend

• Varieties:
  33% Petit Verdot
  25% Malbec
  20% Merlot
  16% Cab Franc
  6% Cab Sauvignon
• Appellation:
  Paso Robles -Templeton Gap
• Average brix at harvest:
  24.8
• Vineyard:
  Estate
• Alcohol:
  13.1%
• Acidity:
  0.68 g/100ml
• pH:
  3.75
• Residual sugar:
  0.03g/100ml
• Date bottled:
  March 28, 2018
• Cases produced:
  385
• Retail Price:
  $ 32.00

Growing conditions:
Challenging! 2015: Early budbreak and erratic temperature swings. No frost, but cool, windy weather during bloom led to shatter in many varieties. Early harvest with excellent quality due to tiny berry size, while yields were miniscule due to on-going drought and poor set.

Winemaking:
After hand harvesting, the grapes were crushed then innoculated 24 hours later with RX-60 & FX-10 yeast and spent an average of 14 days on the skins prior to pressing, Different varietal lots were barrel aged separately for 17 months prior to selecting the final blend. Total barrel aging was 28 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 2022-2028.

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