2018 Phenomenon

Blend Composition | 42% Merlot, 
32% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Sangiovese, and 12% Syrah
Harvest Date | Sept. 20, Oct. 3, 5 and 26
Finished pH | 3.94
Finished TA | 5.8 g/L
Alcohol by volume | 14.6%
Cases Produced | 426

VINTAGE
The 2018 growing season got a relatively late start due to a cool and blessedly rainy Spring.  Summer temperatures remained moderate, with a brief and relatively mild heat spike at the end of July.  Our harvest began 15 days later than in 2017, and proceeded at a slow and steady pace, affording us the luxury of picking at peak flavor development and relatively low Brix. Yields were up relative to the last several years and the quality is outstanding.

WINEMAKING
The four varieties were hand-picked and fermented separately with gentle fermentation techniques resulting in wine of great depth and complexity.  We selected the finest barrels of each lot to create the Phenomenon blend.  The wine matured for 20 months in new and once-used French oak barrels before bottling. 

TASTING NOTES
This wine is rich and sumptuous, with a satiny texture conveying flavors of blackberry, black cherry, and molten chocolate. The wine is brilliantly aromatic with an ever-evolving palette of rose and violet, freshly brewed espresso, and dark fruit. It is approachable now but will open up and offer more with time in the cellar.

Drinking window:  Enjoy now through 2032

PAIRINGS
This versatile wine would be wonderful alongside a butterflied leg of lamb, fettucine with walnut pesto, or pomegranate-braised short ribs.