Vintage Factors

This blend is coming from three outstanding wines, and two vintages, Merlot 2020, Petit Verdot 2020, and Cabernet Franc 2021. The 2020 Vintage: a unique and most challenging growing season, beginning with 8 nights of Spring frosts that reduced the yields. A wet late Spring, a record cold June followed by a very dry period in July, when we almost had to irrigate. Mid-Summer was a rollercoaster of rains followed by sunshine. At last we enjoyed a dry end of September for harvest. All white varietals show great aromatics, very fresh acidity, and medium structure. Our most reliable parcels of Nebbiolo, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot rewarded our dedication with very elegant and age-worthy wines. The 2021 Vintage: the season opened in late March on a note of suspense - early bud break and frost threats, which were mitigated by our wind machines. Perfectly timed spring rains then allowed for a superior bloom of the clusters in early June. Ideally, from early July we received 7 weeks of very warm and dry weather. Manual watering took place in some parcels with low water retention, and in mid-August we received needed rain. Harvest took place at optimal ripening times between August 14th and September 21st. The 2021 weather gifted us with some of the most admirably balanced wines we have produced, reminiscent of the elegance we saw in Octagon 2009, winner of our 4th Governor’s Cup.