Description
Deep ruby in color. Ripe black currant, dark cherry, and lilac interlace with black pepper, bay leaves, coffee, and toasted oak to create a rich, dense nose. Powerful, rich, and textured notes of dark cherry, ripe plum, caramel, and vanilla weave an intense, voluminous mouthfeel accented by hints of anise and mocha. The back palate is rounded out by a lengthy yet smooth finish of vibrant sweet oak, tobacco leaves, and black olives. Our Mount Veeder vines speak a language all of their own. Becoming fluent in that language, fully understanding all of its subtleties and nuances is the trick to making great wine from mountain vineyards. Over the years, we have come to know the contours, dips, and ridges of the mountain—and the sequence of ripening that is the key to it all. A Mount Veeder harvest is a Zen-like art of moving across a three dimensional chessboard. Take the uphill side of the vine only, or the downhill side, or just the north, south, east, or west section. We pick only what’s ready and at peak flavor and ripeness. It’s a complex endeavor, and needs to be carved with precision, matching areas of the block that are at the same level of ripeness, and leaving other areas to mature another week or more. -Janet Myers, Winemaker
