Ryan Riley

9.5

The aroma and flavor are quite tricky to describe because not like any other flavors we commonly know, but the most pronounced aspect of the wine is its texture, which is soft, so much so that it's first touch on the palate is almost unnoticeable, but then it builds, specifically with the emergence of tannins and an ever so slight spiciness. I want to believe however that the aroma and flavor are ineffable because they're only comparable to other wines from the Loire--it's not cherry or black pepper or whatever--rather, it's simply a great wine representative of its terroir. It just tastes like wine to me, and a great wine. It should also be noted that it's not rich--it's instead quite subtle. — 11 years ago

Wayfarer Vineyard

10

This blend of the vineyard’s 12 prize clones yields a wine of complexity and completeness, the culmination of a far-reaching journey. This wine possesses a beautiful ruby color with aspects of garnet. Vibrant aromas of red cherry, strawberry and raspberry mingle with layers of crushed violet and rose petal, fresh mint and forest floor. New French oak adds even greater complexity with hints of vanilla bean and toasted bread. The entry of the wine is supple and generous, and balances with its firm structure. A harmonious blend of the site’s diverse clones, a panoply of red fruits unfurls on the palate with an emergence of cranberry, pomegranate and raspberry, framed by silky tannins and lifted by bright acidity and mineral undertones. This is a restrained, concentrated wine that opens magically with each sip. The complexity of floral notes and wild red berries lingers on the palate with a lasting finish.

We hand-picked and hand-sorted the fruit, reserving 8% for whole-cluster fermentation prior to de-stemming. The remaining berries were de-stemmed and hand-sorted again before transfer to tank. Five to seven days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% native yeast fermentation. The fruit was then gently pressed, its free-run juice transferred to 78% new French oak barrels for 15 months of aging.



— 11 years ago