2019 Saltbird Cellars Harbinger Red Wine

Tasting Notes
A swirl of this deep garnet wine, and dried blueberry and currants, sorrel and sweet mint, and a hint of incense meet the nose. One sip, and the blue fruit turns boozy, with luscious tannins instantly coating the tongue, oscillating between smooth velvet and grippy micro tannins. The acid is just enough to keep fruit flavors lively, with dark plum flavors that linger.

Process
The 2019 spring was cool and wet to start, followed by a warm & sunny (but not hot) summer. The fall was spectacular with warm, sunny and DRY final days of ripening. Late-ripening varieties, including the Cabernet Sauvignon in this blend got the heat needed to fully ripen in late October. A cold soak was followed by fermentation in egg-shaped fermenters for two weeks. The final wine is a combination of several micro-yeast trials which give this finished wine a complexity not seen with a monoculture fermentation. The wine was set to rest in the barrel for 15 months. A higher percentage of newer oak gives the nose and the finish a hint of smokiness.

Varietals
80% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon

Artist
Nadira Vlaun, www.nadiravlaun.com