| TASTE BENCHMARKS | |||
| Profile #1 Solid, Structured Style |
|||
|---|---|---|---|
| Appearance | Dark / medium-dark red. | ||
| Aroma | Cocoa, lemon, plum, olive, green tea, sometimes prune, apricot or raisin. | ||
| Flavor | Surprisingly respectable wines, rivaling North Coast offerings. Initial dense, sweet, round and rich, then finishing with hard or dry tannins. | ||
| Balance | Soft acidity, warm alcohol. | ||
| PRODUCTION CORRELATIONS | |||
| Oenological | Standard vinifications in both large and small tanks. Micro-oxygenation to improve structure and refine tannins is commonly employed, adding to stability and longevity. Small barrels, oak alternatives widely used. | ||
| Viticultural | Care must be taken to withhold irrigation in the Spring to prevent excessive vigor from shading fruit. Vines are balanced at 6-7 tons per acre. | ||
| Terroir | Rich sandy loams, cooled by Pacific influence through Fairfield gap. | ||