Black Pearl

Blend: Syrah 23%, Cabernet Sauvignon 23%, Merlot 17%, Malbec 15%, Petit Verdot 10%, Cabernet Franc 12%. The whole blend was co-fermented in a Burgundy-style 2-ton open-top wood fermenter and was pressed directly into barrels. It was aged on its lees until the day of bottling in 33% new and 67% 1-2 year old French oak barrels (all Rousseau). No alcoholic or m/l inoculations, no acid corrections, no fining or filtration. Bottled manually, with total SO2 near zero at the time of bottling.

Tasting Notes

Tasting Date:   10/15/2005 – Very deep purple-black color. A powerful, earthy nose gradually opening up with aeration to reveal great depth and complexity. Full bodied, very concentrated, and intensely flavored, this wine somehow comes across as well proportioned, velvety textured, and elegant. Ripe, rich, massively structured, yet composed and well balanced. The finish is uncommonly long and flavorful. There is nothing international about this wine... although it's made of mostly Bordeaux varietals, few would mistaken it for a Bordeaux, or a Napa wine. Properly stored, this wine should drink well and further improve for 15-25 years.