Kale "Stagecoach Vineyard" Broken Axle Red Blend 2016 Napa Valley

TASTING NOTES

The nose is voluptuous with blueberry, blackberry and violet that lead to sweet freesia. The palate is fresh and juicy on the initial attack. Silky tannins lead the mid palate and finish to tobacco, dark cocoa, strawberry, earthy balsamic, pencil shavings and boysenberry. A crowd pleaser, this wine can wow a crowd now and over the next 15 years.

61% Syrah, 39% Grenache

Vineyard
Stagecoach Vineyard is the largest contiguous vineyard in the Napa Valley spanning multiple AVAs, and four distinct regions. With planting started in 1995, billions of pounds of volcanic rock were removed. Heavy mining equipment is used to prepare the soil before planting. There are behemoth dump trucks that have lived and died on the property inspiring the name “Broken Axle.” Our blocks of Syrah (Alban clone) and Grenache (Alban clone) are located in the Pritchard Hill region of the property at 1500’ elevation.

The soils are red Hambright complexes and with Guenoc outcroppings. Dynamite was used to clear this well-exposed southwest slope. The soils are de-vigorating to the vines due to great drainage and sparse nutrients. The vines produce light crops of extremely small black berries transforming into intense, powerful wines.