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2015 Signature Mtn Blend

2015 Signature Mtn Blend
98 pts Sunset International

In almost every single blending session for the Signature Mountain Blend, this was one of the unique vintages where both vintners Ralph and Phillip unanimously agreed on their favorite blends when tasting blind. They took a Right Bank approach once again making this blend predominantly a powerful Merlot - 81% comes from the 24-year old Rockwell Ridge estate vineyard vines (@ 1365 ft elevation on the slopes of Howell Mountain). The remaining 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc, & 1% Malbec come from Pritchard Hill, Atlas Peak, and the Silverado Bench. In effect, this has culminated in more complexity and finesse than the 2014 predecessor. Some notably captivating aromas on the bouquet include dense vanillin, baking spices, leather, rose water, mocha, alluring luxardo cherries, White Rabbit Chinese candy, and a hint of forest floor. On the palate, it's bold, complex, opulent, and captivating with dense notes of blackcurrant, crème de cassis, dark cherry liqueur, pencil shavings, and a perennially focused coffee finish. It's the perfect combination of innocence and mastery. In fact, if one didn't know better, this could easily be mistaken for a Cabernet Sauvignon.

Mother Nature in 2015 was not very nice to us, but evidently, this was a blessing in disguise. We experienced another drought year, shatter in the spring, and a heat wave with temperatures over 100° late in the season. Even with the atypical growing period, 2015 was yet another epic Napa Valley vintage where the stars aligned for us. Although we lost approximately 35% of our total yield due to shatter, the final fruit quality was SUPERB - and has created the best wine we have ever made! After waiting three years on a wait list, in 2015 we were also very fortunate to obtain First Growth fruit out of Oakville (adjacent to a very famous, iconic Napa Valley winery who charges $1000+ per bottle) to blend together with our ultra premium Howell Mountain, Atlas Peak, Pritchard Hill, and Silverado Bench fruit. We barrel-aged all five Bordeaux varietals in 90% new French and Hungarian oak for 23 months, adding elegant, balanced structure without overpowering the essence of the unique terroir. Furthermore, in 2015, we hired Andrew Opatz as our vineyard manager for our Rockwell Ridge estate vineyard who immediately got to work on improvements.

283 Cases Produced

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$175.00
 
SKU: HERT15SRD7
Wine Specs
Vintage
2015
Varietal
Bordeaux Blend
Appellation
Napa Valley
Harvest Date
10/14/2015
Aging
23 months - 90% new French and Hungarian Oak
Alcohol %
14.70
Wine Profile
Ratings
"A blend of 81% Merlot, 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, and the balance Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc, and Malbec that’s packed in a huge, embossed bottle, the 2015 Signature Mountain Blend offers a killer perfume of plums, blueberries, vanilla oak and damp earth. It's sexy, opulent and rounded on the palate, and is reminiscent of a top-flight Pomerol. With sweet tannin and a big midpalate, it’s approachable today, yet should be at its finest from 2020-2035." — Jeb Dunnuck, 95 Points
Awards
98 Points, Best of Class, Double Gold Award Winners, Sunset International Wine Competition. Ranked #43 in Top 100 Wines of 2018 - International Wine Report. Wine Enthusiast Cellar Selection
Other Notes
"The 2015 Hertelendy Signature Mountain Blend is made in a Right Bank style, composed of 81% Merlot from the Rockwell Ridge estate vineyard vine and the remaining 12% Cabernet Sauvignon, 3% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc and 1% Malbec from vineyards in Pritchard Hill, Atlas Peak, and the Silverado Bench. This fantastic wine begins with a seductive aromatics of dark cherries and blueberries, woven together with violets, sweet spices, tobacco, dark chocolate shavings, loam and minerals all emerging from the glass. This continues to impress on the palate with is full body, outstanding depth and gorgeous seamless, opulent texture. It possesses wonderful depth and concentration, with flavors of ripe dark fruits, spices, graphite and mocha which layer the palate and expand through the long, supple finish. Overall this is an utterly delicious wine, which is already showing extremely well, yet has the potential to thrive in the cellar for 20+ years. Another gem from Ralph Hertelendy and Philip Corallo-Titus. 283 Cases Produced." — International Wine Report, 95 Points