WINEMAKER’S NOTE

Dark garnet in the glass, commanding aromas of blueberry, caramel and toasted oak preview a bold, mouth-filling palate stacked with concentrated layers of ripe dark fruit, black cherry and milk chocolate. Robust and full-bodied with excellent weight in the mid-palate, this complex wine leaves a lasting impression with a smooth, round and full finish. - John Killebrew, Winemaker

VINTAGE

A cool start to the season brought on slow even ripening with enough rain to generate reservoirs establishing a strong root system. A warm Summer followed with few heat spikes promoting even canopy growth and fruit development that maintained bright fruit flavors. After a successful harvest along with lots of hard work, we are left with a wine we are proud of – layered, balanced, and delicious.

WINEMAKING

Throughout the growing season, winemaker John Killebrew visited each vineyard    block regularly. The fruit for Z. Alexander Brown was harvested during the cool early morning hours to ensure that the concentrated fruit flavors were captured at the peak of ripeness. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed, moved into stainless steel tanks and slowly warmed to fermentation temperatures. Following the completion of primary and malolactic fermentation, the wine was drained and gently pressed into American and French oak. The final blend for his boldly flavored wine was thoughtfully crafted by John and Zac as a result of multiple hands-on tastings and blending sessions featuring a selection of the best lots of the vintage. - John Killebrew, Winemaker