Field Note Friday – From the Cellar
This week, I've been diving into barrel lots from three vintages, 2022, 2023, and 2024, checking in on their progress before we shift into full harvest mode. It's one of the quieter parts of the season, but it's essential. We're not blending yet; we're listening. Each lot tells us something about where it's been and where it's going.
Our 2022 vintage is getting a bit of special treatment: extended barrel aging. It's a little longer than usual, and that extra time will enhance the wine's complexity, structure, and ability to age gracefully. We'll revisit these barrels in December for our big team tasting, when we taste every single barrel to begin forming blends. But right now, it's about observation and note-taking.
By tasting now, we're also preparing for the upcoming harvest. We look at how vineyard blocks, fermentation decisions, and barrel choices from past years are evolving, and we use that insight to guide our approach for 2025. We've got detailed notes going back years, and this is where all that tracking pays off.
Every barrel is a chapter in the vintage's story. Tasting them now helps us decide what's working, adjust what needs refining, and keep moving forward.
Thanks for being on the journey with us.
– Hoss Milone, Winemaker
Highlights from this week’s Field Note Friday:
- Tasting 2022–2024 barrels
- 2022 gets extended aging
- Prepping for 2025 harvest
- Reviewing block & barrel notes
- Comparing yeast trials
- December blend tasting ahead
Checking in on the Merlot grapes we talked about a couple of weeks ago...
The vines are looking healthy. We are seeing the color shift in the merlot, which is typically behind Pinot Noir but ahead of Zinfandel (remember, veraison happens in waves throughout the vineyard). Two weeks in the vineyard show us a lot of change at this time of year.
Super Tuscans originated in Italy as a way to break tradition and elevate Sangiovese with the power and structure of Bordeaux varietals. We've crafted our own California take on this style, showcasing the elegance of our Brunello-clone Sangiovese and the rich, 90+ point pedigree of our Cabernet. The result is a uniquely balanced red that honors tradition while carving its own legacy.
