2009 Reserve Tempranillo 750

Color: Deep ruby, opaque to the rim; bright magenta edge. Aroma: Spiced red fruit with a dusting of white pepper, and a toasty, cocoa-powder oakiness. Palate: Full and rich with dense red and black fruit flavors of currant, black cherry, and a generous preserve-like mouthfeel. Medium-high tannins and a long finish promise 5-8 years of ideal sipping.

The 2009 growing season began with an early bud break (early March) due to the extremely warm spring temperatures. An early April frost rolled into the Paso Robles area but our vineyards were unaffected due to their hillside stature. A warm consistent summer segued into moderate early fall. The balanced weather allowed us to pick on flavor profiles without any concerns of excessive heat or cooler temperatures. Our red wine sources and home vineyard have shown incredible density and power of varietal expression, despite a ferocious rainstorm that dropped over 9 inches of rain on October 14, when over 80% of the grapes were already in tank or barrel. This delayed the completion of harvest, but the relentless vines shrugged off the water and retained great concentration and flavor. The style of the vintage will be flashy and intense.