2011 Cuvée Alis, Estate Grown, Moon Mountain District

The Vineyard

Our Syrah and Grenache are organically grown on a small parcel of land located 900 feet above Sonoma Valley on a sun-washed western slope of the Mayacamas Mountains. Bobcat Run takes its name from a large resident feline that treats us to an occasional sighting. This block is part of our 100-acre ranch, which borders and shares red, iron-oxide volcanic soils with our neighbor, the highly acclaimed Monte Rosso Vineyard, a source of superb wines for well over a century. A site ideally suited for growing Syrah and Grenache, Bobcat Run lies in a fairly cool hollow open to the southwest, and its rows run north/south for good sun and warmth without excessive exposure.

 The Vintage

The 2011 growing season was defined by the cool weather. Early spring was wet, and the summer was relatively chilly, giving these grapes a long, drawn out ripening curve that resulted in fruit with less sugar than normally seen yet with outstanding balance and complex fruit flavors. Some warm days in mid-October benefitted the grapes with harvest taking place on October 19, 2011. The 2011 wines may be lower in alcohol than we usually encounter, but they likely will be longer lived with a structure that will embody elegance for years to come.

 Tasting Notes

This wine opens in the style of the great Rhône wines of France that are made from the same varieties; very quietly, with a slow build to an intense show of flavor and aromas. In the beginning of the nose you will find very delicate notes of purple fruit alongside subtle hints of Asian incense and camphor. Take a few moments in the glass, and you will find the nose opening up wide, the purple fruit that appeared in the beginning will take on dimensions of ripe blackberry and warm cherry pie. The camphor aroma will intensify, supporting the fruit and accenting a new aroma of white pepper and smoked meats. Take a sip, and you will find the palate replete with everything promised by the nose, wrapped up in a dark, round body of silky tannins. Note the depth of the fruit character on the palate; this is a multifaceted wine that redefines itself again and again over the course of a glass.

This blend is named for Richard’s wife and co-proprietor, Alis Demers Arrowood, the true love of his life.