2016 Portrait Red Blend
Tasting Notes: This wine represents our Estate as a perfect picture of our vineyard and its soil diversity. That is why we call it Portrait! Each vintage we strive to capture the essence of the diverse soils, varietals, and the unique terroir of Ehlers Estate. With a medium to full body and dark red color, it delivers concentrated aromas of ripe red fruit, raspberries, cherries, cassis, and smoky notes. We use only 40% new French oak, allowing the fruit to shine in the blend. Nice structured acidity; the mouth is dense with vibrant and complex flavors of red berries, smoky spices, and dried herbs. This wine has a long finish with dense silky tannins.
Vintage: 2016 was considered, for many, a near-perfect vintage in Napa and I couldn’t agree more. Weather conditions throughout the year were perfect to achieve beautiful vine growth, proper ripeness, and the development of flavors and tannins in the grapes. The season started a little earlier than average years. Mild temperatures during the summer and some warm days in September and October helped to extend the hanging time of the fruit on the vines, allowing for perfect ripeness.
Varietal: 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Cabernet Franc, 28% Merlot
Harvest: September 6 – 30, 2016
Wine Analysis: 14.5 % alcohol ● 3.48 pH
Appellation: St. Helena, Napa Valley
Bottling Date: August 20, 2018
Production: 1500 cases
Awards and Accolades: 96 Points Somm's Choice