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An expansive, rich wine that evokes a sense of celebration. Heady aromatics of roasted black plum and black cherry layered
with dark chocolate, subtle baking spices, and toasted almond. Our same cool-climate sources, about a third from nearby Hyde Vineyards, delivered a 'riper' wine than the prior vintages. The bottle reads "Rutherford" on the back from blending and bottling at Alpha Omega Winery. A big wine due to the warmer season, but as always, balanced by natural acidity, giving that dinner-friendly, mouthwatering finish. Quite a challenging vintage, due to severe heat strikes (105-110F, even in Carneros) late in the season after a long cool Spring and Summer. We were all pulling leaves to ensure ripening, and weather once again had the final word = sunburn. At Virage, one determined winemaker spent literally two straight weeks snipping away, by hand, the sunburn & raisins on exposed fruit in the vineyards. And we had a shaker table to sort out raisins (sugar bombs!) What got fermented were the 'hearts' of those luscious clusters, bringing a warm glow from an added layer of ripeness. Finish of fruit-laced bittersweet chocolate. Reliable winter warmer. 622 cases produced. Best served at 65F.
- VARIETAL: 56% Cabernet Franc, 42% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Sauvignon
- VINEYARDS: HYDE Vineyards, Carneros and BT, Carneros
- HARVESTED: October 2010
- RELEASED: APRIL 2014
- Alc: 14.8% pH: 3.51 TA: 6.7
- Cooperage: 22 mos in 100% French Oak, 50% New - SYLVAIN, BOSSUET, VICARD, SAURY
- Production: 622 cases
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