2010 Acorn Hill® Alegría Vineyards

2010 Acorn Hill® Alegría Vineyards
Tasting Notes

Complex and layered from the first whiff through to the lingering finish, this wine starts with an aromatic burst of bright blackberry and cherry, smoky oak, dusty leather, and a touch of floral and anise. The smooth entry and silken mouthfeel reveal hints of welcome spiciness in the texture. Juicy vine-ripened blackberry, creamy mocha, and pear notes create a delicious blend that lingers with traces of the gentle oak and tannic structure.

Winemaker's Notes

Acorn Hill is our limited production estate reserve wine from the hillside blocks we planted at Alegría Vineyards in 1991 and 1992. Sangiovese and Syrah grow there side by side.

2010 was a very cool year in the vineyard. The grapes were still green, and not ready for sun, when an unusual August heat wave turned much of the crop into raisins. We painstakingly clipped them from each cluster as we harvested, to be sure we crushed only evenly ripened grapes. This extra work is evident in the quality of the wine. We got less than two tons/acre of Syrah; the Sangiovese was less than three.

Brunello yeast fermented the Sangiovese, Canaiolo, and Mammolo. Syrah yeast fermented the Syrah and Viognier. We barrel-aged the two wines separately for a year before selecting barrels and assembling this blend of blends for six more months of barrel aging. Two and a half years of bottle aging added suppleness to this “super Tuscan” style wine.

This elegant wine’s complex flavors are highlighted by mineral notes that remind us 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.

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AppellationRussian River Valley
Sonoma County
Varietal49% Syrah,
48% Sangiovese,
1% Viognier,
0.5% Canaiolo,
0.5% Mammolo
PairingThis stylish and unique blend pairs beautifully with vegetarian moussaka, blackberry glazed grilled pork chops, or an artisan cheese platter, be it for the first course or dessert.
Alcohol14.10%
Bottle750ml
Cases100
ph Level3.6
TA7.5 g/L