Winemaker’s Notes

Dark garnet to the rim, these top selected barrels from Figgins Estate open with a complex and brooding nose of sun-ripened blackberries, cassis, and dark red fruits layered with tobacco, espresso, rose petals, and baking spices. Notes of graphite, high desert sage, and delicate minerality emerge with air, lending further nuance and depth to this deeply expressive wine. The palate is full, rich, and boldly structured, with tightly wrapped dark fruit flavors framed by substantial tannins and a wide, mouth-filling mid palate. As the wine unfolds, those powerful tannins evolve into a remarkably silky texture, revealing layers of black fruits, baking spices, chicory, and savory herbs. A continuous interplay of flavor carries through the palate, culminating in a complex, long-lasting finish lifted by refreshing acidity. Built for decades of graceful evolution, the 2023 vintage of this wine already displays remarkable balance, depth, and poise.

Vintage Notes

When we put the last of the 2023s to barrel, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of deep gratitude for a truly wonderful growing season. We entered the season with a winter that would not loosen its grip, but then the weather seemed to skip our normal spring entirely and move straight into summer in late April. We had nearly simultaneous bud break in all varietals at Figgins Estate Vineyard, which is quite unusual. Despite one two-day heat wave, the summer was one of the most pleasant I can ever remember. Harvest was drama-free, generous, and proceeded at a steady pace. The wines have stunning potential, with amazing color, density of fruit, and supple tannins. I cannot wait to see them evolve!

| PRINT |