By Fleury Estate
2015 'Passionne' Napa Valley

Wine Details
Sourced from vineyards owned and purchased by Fleury Estate, the 'Passionne' is a Bordeaux-style wine of distinction. The Fleury Estate 'Passionne' is a harmonious blend, highlighting the king of all grapes: Cabernet Sauvignon. A beautiful dark color sets the stage - blending varietals at select percentages combines a deep, full core and nuanced notes in a wonderful, enticing medley. Layers of dark fruit, mocha, spices, and stunning intensity complement a silky and elegant palate.

Vintage Notes
After three years of plentiful harvests, the 2015 growing season finally fought back. With vines showcasing signs of the state's fourth straight year of drought, yields and berry size were down dramatically. Unseasonably warm temperatures in the late winter and early spring resulted in early bud break and bloom. Cold weather during flowering led to poor fruit set. The surviving fruit was helped by a warm summer, which saw almost no rain. To compound things, heat spikes compacted the harvest, shortening the overall length of hang time. The harvest was one of the earliest on record in Napa Valley. Albeit a playfully challenging and rewarding vintage, it has produced rich and succulent wines, revealing the great depth of character reflective of this great valley.

Winemaking Notes
Hand-harvested and picked at night. Hand-sorted while still cold from the field. Fermented in small, closed-top stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts. Five-day cold-soak with 24 to 32 days of total maceration. Gentle pump-overs and delestage. Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels.

Technical Details
Varieties: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% Petit Verdot, 10% Merlot, 10% Malbec
Aging: 22 months in 75% new French oak barrels from select artisan coopers
Filtering: Bottled unfined and unfiltered

Tasting Notes
A dazzling ruby red color in the glass boasts both fantastical and great expectations. This 2015 offering of the Passionne shows vibrance and depth immediately. Aromas of tobacco, damp earth, bay leaf, red fruits, anise, cedar, and baking spices combine nicely to tease a most enduring and lengthy palate. Generous and pleasurable flavors of black cherry, lilac, dark plum, and earthy chocolate intertwine with savory notes to complement the velvety tannins. The structure and freshness provide a compelling and expansive experience on the palate that lasts.
[Information provided by Matador Vino]