2021 Estate Opulence

Elegant Bordeaux Blend

• Varieties:
  40% Cab Franc
  22% Petit Verdot
  18% Merlot
  11% Malbec
  9% Cab Sauvignon
• Appellation:
  Paso Robles -Templeton Gap
• Average brix at harvest:
  254.6
• Vineyard:
  Estate
• Alcohol:
  13.5%
• Acidity:
  0.73 g/100ml
• pH:
  3.32
• Residual sugar:
  0.02g/100ml
• Date bottled:
  April 24, 2024
• Cases produced:
  243
• Retail Price:
  $ 40.00

Growing conditions:
Another drought year with 90% of our total rainfall occurring during the last week of January. An unusual frost in late May resulted in a smaller fruit set. The lighter crop coupled with a long warm summer led to the earliest finish to harvest at Victor Hugo ever, with a smaller harvest with excellent quality.

Winemaking:
After hand harvesting, the grapes were crushed then innoculated 24 hours later with D80 yeast and spent an average of 14 days on the skins prior to pressing, Different varietal lots were barrel aged separately for 22 months prior to selecting the final blend. Total barrel aging was 27 months in French and Hungarian oak barrels.

Tasting notes:
Intense, complicated, and rich. Aromatics emanating from the multi-varietal blending include hints of black cherries, dark chocolate, and violet are intertwined with spicy oak. Flavors are deep and rich with layers of pleasantly assertive tannins, rich fruit and toasty oak. The finish is lush with piquant acidity ensuring excellent aging potential.

Cellaring:
While enjoyable currently, this multidimensional Bordeaux blend will continue to improve with proper cellaring for another 6-10 years in the bottle with a plateau of best drinkability from 2030-2038.

Food selection:
This supple, complex wine will enhance elegant beef selections such as filet or prime rib as well as more
exotic game selections.