Nose opens with Black cherry and nutmeg.  Dark plum, cherry, earth, and spice dominate the palate while full, ripe tannins and balanced acidity provide the perfect structure

VINEYARD

Considered a quintessential Carneros AVA vineyard site, Lee Vineyard was planted in 1967 by Ira and Shirley Lee. Saintsbury’s relationship with the Lee family formed in 1982 and that relationship was instrumental to the replanting of the vineyard, which  took place in the 1990s and early 2000s with Dijon, Pommard and Swan clones.

Appellation: Carneros, Napa

Terroir:  Haire clay loam soil; exposure to Petaluma wind gap and San Pablo Bay airstreams, creating temperate growing conditions.

WINEMAKING

After night harvesting, the fruit from the Lee Vineyard has a short distance to travel—a quarter mile down the road to Saintsbury. From there, each block remains separate and receives gentle handling from the sorting table to small open top fermenters for 5 day cold soak, 11 day total cuvaison. This is a site that requires cautious and gentle extraction regime for balanced tannins and bright acidity.