The Sterling West Coast Red Blend is focused, contemporary and a wine that enhances great conversation. Lush strawberry and generous cherry flavors lead into silky and smooth tannins.
Varietal | Red Blend |
---|---|
Vintage | 2016 |
Appellation | California |
Alcohol % | 13.8% |
The grapes were picked at optimum ripeness and sent directly to the winery. Once in the winery, the grapes were cold soaked for two days followed by fermentation. The different varieties and lots were kept separate through the fermentation process and only came together at the final stage when the winemaker assembled the final blend before bottling. The wine was aged for ten months in a combination of French and American oak to integrate flavors and soften tannins. The final blend includes Petite Sirah, Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Zinfandel, Malbec and Petit Verdot.
Director of Winemaking Harry Hansen was raised in nearby Sonoma County. “One of my earliest memories of wine was the gallon jug of red wine that we always had at home. I would go with my father to a local winery, maybe in Kenwood or Healdsburg, to refill that jug and chit-chat with the winery proprietors. The aromas of those wines were always something attractive, somehow mysterious, but always memorable.”
Harry joined Sterling Vineyards and relocated to Napa Valley just before the 2011 Harvest. “The opportunity to join such a respected Napa Valley winery is exciting and a fantastic next step in my winemaking career. Sterling Vineyards is making some wonderful wines, and I look forward to taking that next step up in quality and reputation.”
2016 was another brilliant growing season for most of California, although prolonged drought conditions continued resulting in lower yields in the vineyards. The conditions throughout the growing season were consistent, even and warm with few unbearable, damaging heat spikes. California did experience a wet October, but most grapes were already picked and safely in the winery before the rains began. Overall, the quality and fruit characteristics in this vintage were very good with well-developed flavor profiles and excellent color development.
Outstanding vineyards are the foundation for this wine. Carefully selected fruit from premier vineyards throughout California allow the winemaker to craft the best expression of the fine varieties used to make this unique blend. This includes an ideal mix of cooler, coastal fruit as well as grapes from the warmer, interior region of California. These growing areas work well together and offer unique growing conditions including long, warm, sunny days tempered by cool ocean breezes..
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