This cuvée brings together grapes from two vineyard sites, each adding its own charm. The first grapes harvested—41% of the blend—come from our neighbors at Valley Foothills Vineyard, a warm, sheltered spot on the valley floor tucked behind a redwood grove. Picked on September 12, these grapes were fully ripe at 24.1° Brix, (we chew the skins and taste the seeds to confirm) with rich, hazelnut-like flavors and soft acidity. The balance of this cuvée—59% of the bottling—was harvested nearly three weeks later, on October 1, from the upper section of Navarro's Middle Ridge Vineyard, over 1,000 feet up and cooled daily by ocean breezes. This site yields grapes with modest sugars (23.2° Brix), bright zesty acidity and a citrus-pear flavor profile. Each lot was fermented and aged separately sur lie in neutral French oak ovals for six months to develop texture and depth.

---