$92.00
The 2019 Élu has an intense dark ruby color with ripe blackberry, blueberry, mocha, dried fig and crushed black pepper aromatics. The wine is full-bodied and layered with fine grain tannin structure and refinement. On the palate, the velvety texture highlights juicy black plum, cassis, dusty cocoa powder, and notes of roasted espresso with a lingering finish.
The fruit was hand-harvested in the cool morning hours. Clusters were sorted using a double sorting system. First, they were sorted by hand, then run through a de-stemmer before individual berry sorting to ensure the ideal grapes were chosen. These berries were delivered to a fermenter for resting. Warm fermentation temperatures were encouraged along with gentle cap maceration to achieve the desired color and structure before an extended maceration time on skins. The wine was transferred directly to barrel for 19 months of maturation.
Forty eight percent of the sorted berries were fermented in French oak barrels and three percent in small concrete tanks, both to add layers of complexity to the wine.
71% Cabernet Sauvignon
18% Merlot
5% Cabernet Franc
3% Malbec
3% Petit Verdot
94 Points, James Suckling – “An array of ripe blackberries and blueberries, blue flowers, chocolate, licorice and pinewood. Some hazelnuts, too. Full body and a firm texture with fine-grained tannins and delicious fruit. Polished and refined with a lingering, velvety mouth-feel. Deep and long. – JS February 2022
92 Points, Jeb Dunnuck – “Based on 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Merlot, and the rest a mix of Bordeaux varieties, the 2019 Red Blend Estate Elu is a forward, opulent, undeniably delicious red that has some spicy oak, notes of cassis and tobacco, medium to full body, and ripe tannins. It’s ideal for drinking any time over the coming decade. – JD May 2022
92 Points, Wine and Spirits – “Focused on cabernet sauvignon (71 percent), this Bordeaux-variety blend grows at two estate vineyards—in Rutherford and at Dollarhide, in Napa Valley’s eastern hills. There’s a high-altitude elegance to this 2019, the flavors concentrated but restrained. Tannins keep it black for now, touching on bitter chocolate, espresso roast coffee and iron shavings. Built to age toward a moment when those tannins will be a virtue, mingling with the sweet fruit in the end. — JG November 2023
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