Aperture Cellars 2021 Alexander Valley Red Blend

95+ Points Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – The 2021 Bordeaux Red Blend is the first iteration to include a significant amount of fruit from Farrow Ranch, Aperture’s latest vineyard acquisition. It’s a blend of 44% Merlot, 27% Malbec, 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Petit Verdot and 9% Cabernet Franc and was matured for 18 months in 50% new French oak. It has slowly unfurling scents of red and black currants, chocolate-covered cherries, integrated new oak spices, tobacco and tapenade. The palate is particularly elegant, balancing concentrated, nuanced flavors with a frame of velvety tannins and vibrant acidity that calls you back to the glass.

Winemaker Notes “All of our fruit is hand harvested and brought into the winery within hours of being picked. Everything is methodically and obsessively sorted. A cold soak of 4-7 days with minimal air incorporation starts the extraction and then cool fermentations with native yeast carry out the remaining. Air and temperature are controlled throughout the 14-28 day fermentation and extended maceration is determined lot by lot when I walk the fine line of full extraction but still keep an elegant and silky texture. Wines go through malolactic fermentation in barrel and are aged (sur-lees) for 18 months.

From the winery “For this vintage, we crafted a distinct Bordeaux blend, composed primarily of merlot and malbec, with almost equal inclusions of cabernet sauvignon, petite verdot, and cabernet franc. The ripe red fruit characters are structured by silky seamless tannins, showcasing an elegant density to the blend.”

Blend

• 44% Merlot
• 27% Malbec
• 10% Cabernet Sauvignon
• 10% Petit Verdot
• 9% Cabernet Franc

Barrel Ageing – Aged 18 months, 45% new oak, 60- and 70-gallon French oak barrels