2015 Atlas Peak Revisited
Giving our 2015 vintage a look back 7 years on, it is still super vibrant!
2015 was a challenging year with early inclement weather causing shatter, then being a fourth drought year in a row, an intensely hot summer. This caused much lower yields than normal, especially on our Cabernet Sauvignon. The resulting wine’s final blend saw a greater percentage of Merlot than our average and an ever-so-slightly riper style.
Upon recently tasting, the wine is exuberant, expressive and luscious. It’s a gorgeous ruby in the glass, exhibiting intense aromas of bright red cherry, raspberry and currant with loads of floral prettiness and a dusty sandalwood essence. It is redolent of a warmer vintage Bordeaux of about 7-10 years in age with some underbrush and minerality underlying the luscious fruit.
It has luscious, vibrant acidity that explodes on the mouth with fine grained tannin making an appearance on the mid-to-back palate. The mountain aspects give it a quality akin to the “Rutherford dust”. The flavors are dominated by bright, ripe red berries, cherries and a savory cedar/sandalwood quality along with suggestions of hibiscus tea. There is a warm spice element rather like cinnamon grahams.
This wine is still well within its ascent and should continue to gain complexity for at least another 7-10 years is well cellared.
