2009 Acorn Hill® Alegría Vineyards

Tasting Notes

Intriguing aromas of tart cherry, nuanced dark fruit, minerality, and oak introduce this distinctive hillside blend. The elegant mouthfeel and smooth texture contribute to the wine’s sophistication. Mocha, vanilla, and an earthy mineral essence wrap around the restrained dark cherry, dusty plum, and mixed berry flavors that appear mid-palate and linger. A subtle juiciness in the finish adds interest and finesse to this innovative blend from our Acorn Hill.

Winemaker's Notes

Acorn Hill is our estate reserve wine made from the hillside blocks we planted at Alegría Vineyards in 1991 and 1992. We selected and combined our favorite barrels of Sangiovese and Syrah to create the blend. The Sangiovese was co-fermented with Canaiolo and Mammolo; the Syrah was co-fermented with Viognier; so each component was a field blend, making this a special blend of field blends.

The growing season in 2009 was a very cool, which allowed the grapes to mature slowly but steadily. We picked the Sangiovese just before a mid-October rain and the Syrah a week later. The first lot was fermented with Brunello yeast and we used Syrah yeast for the second. We barrel aged the wines separately for a year before assembling the blend for further barrel aging and integration. The wine’s complex flavors highlighted by mineral notes are an elegant reflection of the hill itself. You can almost taste the rocky clay loam soils and feel the sun on the south and west-facing slopes of Acorn Hill.

Approachable upon release, this wine will age beautifully to be enjoyed for years to come.