Sensory Notes: This vibrant wine has aromas of candied cherries and licorice. This smooth-textured wine dazzles the palate with round red fruit and holiday spices, lingering solidly with a hint of sweet oak. Vinification Notes: The wine was harvested at full ripeness, crushed, destemmed and fermented for nine days, with pumpovers being performed twice daily. The wine was aged for 15 months in primarily French oak barrels, 20% new.
Vineyard Notes: The Big River ranch is a unique property that boasts the deep red soil and hot summer days that give the Alexander valley its stellar reputation for big, complex wines. It also benefits from the coastal cooling effect and early morning fog of the nearby Russian River valley.
Vintage Synopsis: In 2007 we experienced a steady summer of warm days and cool, foggy nights, ideal growing conditions for top-notch winegrapes. 2007 wines have excellent concentration with full but soft tannins. The vintage balances power and finesse and is perhaps the best year in Sonoma County in the last decade.
Cellar Recommendation: Expect this wine to improve until 2013.

Strictly limited production. 450 cases produced.