The 2009 vintage has yielded a broad and inviting expression of our Decoy Red Wine, with classic Napa Valley fruit notes and a silky, mouthcoating mid-palate. The aromas spotlight layers of mocha, mulberry and cassis with a subtle, yet sophisticated hint of cigar box. On the palate, this wine is soft and appealing with abundant flavors of blackcurrant, plum, hazelnut and licorice.
From our first Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc blocks to our final red-varietal Estate picks, our 2009 harvest spanned more than two months. Though the 2009 growing season presented certain challenges—from early shatter to late-season rain—a thoughtful response in the vineyards yielded smaller-than-normal crops of high-quality fruit. This response included aggressive leafing, an early thinning protocol and a heavy field sort to select only the most desirable grapes.
Harvest Dates: August 23 — November 5, 2009
Average Sugar at Harvest: 24.8° Brix
14 Napa Valley appellations
Varietal Content
46% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon
9% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Cooperage
100% French Oak Château-Style Barrels (60 Gallons)
Barrel Aging: 12 Months
Age of Barrels: 5% new, 95% second vintage
Production/Technical Data
Alcohol: 14.5%
0.61 g/100 ml titratable acidity
8-10 days fermentation at 80°F
pH: 3.53
Bottled: November 2010
Released: December 2010
4 Stars - Excellent
The 2009 Red Wine is full bodied, moderately rich, and very well balanced, with complex aromas/flavors (black currant, toast, vanilla, red licorice), and a medium long finish. More>