VDR Red Blend

Vintage: 2022

Varietal: Blend

Appellation: Monterey

Alcohol %: 15

This wine is sourced predominantly from some of the southernmost vineyards in Monterey County, a unique pocket of the Central Coast situated perfectly for grapes like Petite Sirah and Petit Verdot. Shielded by the Santa Lucia Mountains to the west and the Gabilan Range to the east, the vines enjoy warm, undisturbed days under the sun, followed by cool evenings that dip as much as 50 degrees from the daytime highs. These cool nights help the fruit retain low pH and high natural acidity, while the daytime sunlight and heat enables the development of thick skins with excellent color and optimal sugar levels at harvest time.

After night harvesting the grapes in Hames Valley, they were brought to the winery, destemmed, crushed and fermented at about 80°F. Daily pump overs were performed to extract optimal flavor and color, then at dryness, the must was pressed, settled, and racked clean for aging for 18 months on American, French and Hungarian oak (50% new). To retain varietal character, each lot was fermented and aged separately prior to blending.

It’s almost impossible to not notice the dark color of VDR. Whereas many dark wines are referred to as “inky,” this goes beyond that to a rich, deep, dark garnet color. The nose first entices you with ripe blackberry and plum, intermingled with notes of vanilla, mocha, and toasty oak. The aromas seamlessly carry through on the palate with vivid notes of bright black fruit and a lingering sweet oak finish, making VDR an excellent candidate for savoring on its own or sharing over a meal. Because of its unique taste profile, VDR pairs seamlessly across both your entrée and dessert.