This wine has ripe berry fruit and spice aromas. There are nice dark cherry, mocha and coffee tones on the nose. On the palate the wine has a powerful entry, the wine is expansive and fills the palate. The tannins are nicely structured and provide a great framework for the wine. I find black cherry, blackberry, coffee all layered with some very nice toasted oak tones on the palate. The wine is well balanced and is sharing nicely resolved tannins in its youth which will allow it to age gracefully for years to come. This wine is best enjoyed from a decanter, 30-45 minutes after opening.

This is a dark, powerful wine, extracted from slowly and fully ripened fruit. On the nose the wine offers copious aromas of black cherry, blackberry, black licorice and raspberry with nicely integrated and lightly toasted spicy oak aromas and hints of vanilla. In the background there are hints of red pepper and spice which elevate and balance the aromas of this wine. On the palate, the wine is bold and well-extracted. It bursts onto the palate with a deeply layered texture and medium-grain tannins, followed by a lush mid-palate on a long lingering finish.

This 2018 Estate Merlot has bright red berry aromas, cherry and raspberry, dried floral tones intertwined with hints of mocha, vanilla and cola. On the palate the wine is both relaxed and invigorating. There is a wonderful round mid-palate that is well-balanced on a beam of acidity. The framework of gentle tannins leads this wine into a lingering finish that is both full, yet bright. This elegant wine will age gracefully.

Vintage 2019 began with abundant rainfall, followed by a mild Spring. We had an extended period of flowering which resulted in great fruit set, with little shatter. A Labor Day weekend heatwave kicked harvest into high gear, then cool weather followed promoting full ripeness at lower sugar levels. With our 2019 wines, we’re finding great complexity of rich texture, deep structure, and finesse.

This wine displays a rich golden tone, with brilliant clarity. There are expressive aromas of golden apple, figs and ripe pear. These aromas integrate nicely with richer aromas of light caramel, truffle, and a nice complement of toasted vanillin oak. There is a very appealing earthy tone. On the palate, the wine is rich and full on the attack, encompassed by a full-bodied creamy texture, which leads seamlessly into the lingering finish.

Our 2020 Chardonnay was harvested in 4 separate lots over 3 days from our Monticello Estate. The fruit was hand-picked and cluster sorted prior to being whole cluster pressed. 2020 was a very consistent growing season, and wonderful for our earlier ripening varietals. We harvested at ideal ripeness, with brix ranging from 22.8 to 23.8. We fermented 24 unique micro-batches in oak barrels, stainless steel and concrete tanks, then blended everything back together in a magnificently layered representation of our vineyard. 

Our 2019 Cabernet Franc was hand-picked, then destemmed and berry-sorted on the crush pad. Fermentation lasted 12 days with the wine drained and pressed at dryness. Malolactic fermentation took place in barrels. The wine was aged in French oak barrels for 24 months. 1/3 new French oak. Since the wine is 100% varietal, there was no blending, but the barrel selection was completed at 18 months aging, 6 months prior to bottling.

I find dark berry fruit, hints of spice and light toasted oak, vanilla tones on the nose in this wine. On the palate the wine is very well balanced with depth on the midpalate but also nuance and finesse on the finish. It is a celebration of the depth that can be attained with this varietal in Oak Knoll District. The attack is big, but is supported by layers of on the midpalate. The tannins are moderate, and the underlying fruit character is deep, so that this wine will evolve gracefully over time. The finish is big, and lingers with dark red berry fruit and toasted oak.

I find this to be an elegant example of the diversity of our Monticello Vineyard in Oak Knoll District. The aromas are subtle but dynamic, offering strawberry, cola, cinnamon and hints of vanilla on the nose. On the palate, the wine is very well balanced, displaying a soft, velvety texture with a vibrant beam of acidity which provides a wonderful structure for such an elegantly framed wine. I find the wine is a little darker on the palate than on the nose, offering flavors of raspberry, black cherry, and cola leading into a long, smooth finish.

Come to the Dark Side.

Vibrant Refreshing Rosé

The wine has an elegant, light salmon pink color, with vibrancy and freshness. The aromas offer fresh floral tones, strawberry, subtle hints of red pepper and dried cinnamon. On the palate the wine displays an elegant balance of ripe, light redberry fruit and vibrant, crisp acidity. The finish is fresh and should provide a wonderful accompaniment to a range of spring and summer dishes.

This is a dark, powerful wine, extracted from slowly and fully ripened fruit. On the nose the wine offers copious aromas of black cherry, blackberry, black licorice and raspberry with nicely integrated and lightly toasted spicy oak aromas and hints of vanilla. In the background there are hints of red pepper and spice which elevate and balance the aromas of this wine. On the palate, the wine is bold and well-extracted. It bursts onto the palate with a deeply layered texture and medium-grain tannins, followed by a lush mid-palate on a long lingering finish.