The 2010 Nipple Hill is specially hand crafted in small micro lots. Standard French Oak barrels serve as the austere fermentation barrels using a wine making approach hundreds of years in the making. Special attention to each of these micro lots with their wooden vessels, create an optimal environment for the development of the wine. The wines develop slowly and evenly with significantly lower heat and longer, gentler fermentations. This slow gentle fermentation results in a more complex layering and wonderfully integrated flavors and tannins.
The wine is brilliant in the glass, radiating a bright ruby color. This nose is with perfumed with lavender and dried roses and layered with earthy spices of cinnamon, sandalwood and savory. The attack is one of sweet stone fruits and spice with bright acidity. The tannins are smooth and silky providing a lingering finish loaded with complexity. Control the urge to rip and pour … this wine deserves a place in the darkness of the cellar and will greatly reward one’s patience.
Kelly Kidneigh – Winemaker
The 2010 Charlotte is fashioned using grapes exclusively harvested from the high-density, low-yield, upper blocks in the vineyard. Caring no more than four to six clusters per vine, the intensity of this wine began in the vineyard. The 2010 Charlotte is intense … deep, rich and wonderful in the mouth.
The 2010 Charlotte is fashioned using grapes exclusively harvested from the high-density, low-yield, upper blocks in the vineyard. Caring no more than four to six clusters per vine, the intensity of this wine began in the vineyard. The 2010 Charlotte is intense … deep, rich and wonderful in the mouth.
Kelly Kidneigh – Winemaker
The 2010 Bella is a special select, two barrel lot Bright and beautiful, this select lot balances the depth and complexities of the older 115 Dijon clone with the joyful, fruit filled exuberance of the younger, high-density 777 Dijon clone.
Deep ruby red with purple and blue tones, Bella is beautiful in the glass. The aromatics exude a rich elegant nose of earth and smoke with spices of cardamom, cinnamon and nutmeg. The approach on the pallet is of pure silky dark chocolate and black cherry with hints of tobacco and cola. The bright acidity arrives mid palette and is rounded out with sweet lingering tannins. This wine will age exceptionally well.
Kelly Kidneigh, Winemaker
The 2010 Alyssa exhibits a dark ruby and garnet hue with undertones of blood orange. The nose is seductively rich with layered aromatics of earth and spice … fraise de bois and Indian spices with hints of smoked paprika and cola. The attack in the mouth explodes with plush stone fruit coupled with bright and balanced acidity enveloped in smooth oak and silky tannins. While approachable now, this wine will continue to evolve in the cellar.
Kelly Kidneigh – Winemaker