Cruvée Lot 110 California

This blend acknowledges legendary Bordeaux-style wines via a mosaic of petit verdot, cabernet franc and merlot from outstanding vineyard sources in Northern California. Representing large mosaic tiles, petit verdot contributes a structural foundation of integrated tannins, full mouthfeel, broad palate, juicy fi nish and saturated color. Cabernet franc makes a “small-tile” impact with complex aromas, spice, and edgy tannins to balance the softness of the petit verdot. As the mosaic grout, merlot adds warm aromas, bright fruit, and a plush mid-mouthfeel. The varietal content of this wine was determined by the Cinnabar Tasting Room staff as part of an in-house competition to find the best blends for three new proprietary releases. A group of well-educated employees, some credentialed sommeliers, survived three rounds of rotating teams with each team submitting a final blend for each wine.

Tasting Notes

With aromas of candy-apple coating, blueberry and blackberry and a bouquet of mocha, smoke, dried violets and herbs, this complex wine cues up flavors of dark ripe fruit, red cherry, toasted oak, vanilla and grilled meat. The expression is complemented by firm, but rounded tannins, medium body, smooth texture, plush mouthfeel, and a generous finish of dark fruit and toast.

Winemaking

• Hand harvested in early October 2005 and 2006 into small bins
• Three days of cold soaking to enhance the color and aromatics
• 7–10 days of fermentation in a five-ton, open-top stainless steel tank
• The must was punched down 3 times daily for max fl avor extraction
• Aging: French and Amer oak barrels (28% new) for an avg of 43 months
• Final blend determined by a judicious barrel selection
• Bottled unfiltered to preserve the varietal integrity

Vineyards

California AVA

Technical Data

Varietal Content

55% petit verdot
35% cabernet franc
10% merlot

Finished Alcohol

13.9%

Total Acidity

0.61mg per 100ml
pH: 3.58

Release Date

November 2009

Downloads

2006 Cruvée Lot 110 California Product Sheet
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