2018 Verdad Tempranillo, Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard

2018 was a wonderful vintage in Edna Valley. We had a cool wet spring followed by cool, foggy summer mornings and pleasantly warm afternoons. By Labor Day the marine layer was replaced by high pressure which brought warmer weather which ripened up the grapes beautifully.

The grapes were fermented with 25% whole clusters and the lots were punched down by hand for the first few days and pumped over for the latter part of the fermentation to keep the tannin level in check.

The wine was aged in 30% new Ermitage barrels for 18 months. 

This Tempranillo has a silky texture with black cherry aromas and flavors of tart cherries, plums and ripe berries layered with hints of cocoa, mint and licorice. The wine finishes with delicious spicy, toasty oak.

*94 points The 2018 Tempranillo Sawyer Lindquist Vineyard is a powerful, savory wine that is going to need at least a few years to come around. Dark cherry, leather, spice, menthol, licorice and a touch of savoriness from the 20% whole clusters give this cool-climate Tempranillo tons of complexity. The 2018 really comes alive with time in the glass. It is the best edition of this wine yet. Louisa Lindquist gave the 2018 18 months in French oak, about a third of it new.

-- Antonio Galloni