Tasting Notes: On my quest to make a wine that truly reflects a sense of place, Portrait achieves it! The 2018 Ehlers Estate Portrait Red Blend is a blend of our four red Bordeaux varietals: Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Petit Verdot. The beauty of this blend is that it’s showcasing each of these varietals. The wine has a deep garnet-purple color, with aromas of red and blackberries, roses, violets, cedar box, and licorice—perfumed and evocative. The mouthfeel is bold, with concentrated fruit and spices and flavors of black pepper, saffron, and forest floor. Medium to full-bodied, the wine is bright in acidity but dense and balance. Enjoyable now, but will age well for 15-20 more years.

Vintage: 2018 was a perfect vintage from a weather standpoint. Cooler nights and mild daytime temperatures in August helped to retain the beautiful natural acidity and delicate flavors and aromas of the fruit. The excellent weather conditions allowed for less irrigation and longer hang time for the grapes. This helped gain more concentration of fruit character in the wine during fermentation. We were able to pick at the perfect time in sugar, flavor, color, and tannin ripeness without losing acidity.

Varietal: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc, 6% Petit Verdot

Harvest: September and October 2018 

Wine Analysis: 14.5 % alcohol ● 3.67 pH

Oak Aging: 70% New French Oak, 30% used French oak for 22 months

Appellation: St. Helena, Napa Valley

Bottling Date: August 20, 2020

Cases Produced: 750 cases