Sans

Wine Profile

Production Notes

Varietal Composition: 100% estate fruit – 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 17% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 1% Petit Verdot; Oak profile: 100% French oak 85% new

Winemaker Notes

Monitor Ledge has produced a beautifully aromatic wine, with inviting layers of huckleberry, black cherry and chocolate-covered blueberry, as well as notes of caramelized pear, vanilla and sweet baking spices. The palate is plush and round, with fine, dusty tannins underscoring the lush fruit, and hints of fresh herbs and bright acidity contributing to a long, vibrant finish.

Production

The 2017 growing season began with abundant winter rains, followed by a warm, dry spring that led to a perfectly timed budbreak. In addition to replenishing the water table, the early season rains produced robust canopies, which provided invaluable shade during a week-long heat event that kicked harvest into gear during the last week of August. This was followed by a much-needed cooldown that allowed the vines to recuperate, while also giving us extra hangtime for flavor development and tannin resolution. We harvested throughout September and into early October, with the grapes showing lovely ripeness and quality, yielding plush, polished and wonderfully complex wines.