2017 Acorn Hill Alegría Vineyards

Tasting Notes

Enticing aromatics offer a mix of dark ripe fruit and minerality. The first sip reveals bright cherry with hints of cranberry and pomegranate. As the wine opens, luscious flavors of plum, caramel, and creamy mocha-laced chocolate are bathed in mouthwatering acidity balanced with rich vanillin oak notes emerge.

Winemaker's Notes

30 years ago, we planted Sangiovese and Syrah side-by-side, on the west and south-facing slopes of our hillside. This is our tenth vintage of Acorn Hill, a French-Italian blend that combines the vibrancy of Sangiovese and the structure of Syrah. Plentiful winter rains resulted in a luxuriant cover crop, which, promoted healthy vine growth. Careful cluster thinning kept the vines in balance. Warm summer weather led to a September harvest.
We hand-harvested the Sangiovese (with Canaiolo and Mammolo) and the Syrah (with Viognier) a day apart and fermented them separately. Natural enzymes extracted flavors and aroma during a three-day cold soak before fermentation began with added Syrah and Brunello yeasts. We combined the two lots immediately after primary fermentation, and barrel aged them for 17 months to meld. Bill selected medium-long toast barrels to bring out a minerally, nuanced character, while adding structure and notes of vanilla and spice.
Bottle aging for three years, gave this limited production reserve wine beautiful balance and flavors.

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