The 2010 vintage has yielded a voluptuous expression of our Decoy Red Wine with alluring aromas of blackberry, blueberry, black currant and raspberry, supported by holiday spice notes of cinnamon, nutmeg and cardamom. On the palate, this wine is lush and juicy, with a fleshy mid-palate and soft, velvety tannins. Subtle oak-inspired elements of cedar and walnut accentuate the rich dark fruit flavors, giving them an enticing berry pie/cobbler quality.
Due to a wet spring and mild growing season the 2010 harvest started 2 weeks later than we would normally expect. Later, milder seasons tend to result in wines of fine elegance and balanced natural acidity. This is exactly what we see in our white wines and the best reds from superior locations. During harvest the conditions (a strong heat wave and then significant late rains), caused us to be very diligent in the vineyards fine tuning the fruit and making timely picking decisions. In the winery we took precautions to be respectful to the characteristics of the fruit and feel that has resulted in wines of character and intrigue.
Harvest Information
Harvest Dates: September 28 — November 10, 2010
Average Sugar at Harvest: 24.9° Brix
11 Napa Valley appellations
Varietal Content
52% Merlot, 46% Cabernet Sauvignon
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%
0.42 g/100 ml titratable acidity
8-10 days fermentation at 80°F
pH: 3.69
Bottled: August 2011
Released: November 2011