The 9th vintage of our Napa pre-prohibition blend has come together beautifully. What is so remarkable about 2015 is the opulence and richness of the vintage without any roasted characteristics. We credit this to the vintage's consistent heat that never reached extreme high temperatures. Fragrant notes of strawberry coulis, ripe lingonberry tart, cardamom and warm, sandy minerality explode from the glass. The palate is full-bodied with richness to spare, and an incredible sense of layered depth. Tannins, as usual for this blend, provide a supporting role but do not dominate, allowing the powerful finish to linger.
A blend of 30% Grenache, 28% Mourvèdre, 18% Carignan,15% Syrah, and 9% Petite, the 2015 Ritual Heritage Blend comes from some seriously old vines and spent 20 months mostly in neutral oak. It’s awesome Rhône blend from California that gives up loads of darker berry fruits, ground pepper, lavender, incense and hints of cured meats. Deep, medium to full-bodied, elegant, and seamless, with fine-grained tannin, it’s a beauty that Rhône lovers shouldn’t miss. It has enough tannin to keep for 10-15 years.
Bold and racy, with currant and smoky grilled anise aromas and potent blackberry and espresso flavors that finish with big, refined tannins. Grenache, Mourvèdre, Syrah, Carignane and Petite Sirah. Drink now through 2027.
A Rhone varietal blend, the 2015 Ritual features a medium garnet-purple color and spicy, baked berry and kirsch-laced nose with hints of black pepper and fragrant earth. Full-bodied and packed with earthy/mineral-inspired characters in the mouth, it offers ripe, rounded tannins and a lively backbone, finishing on a peppery note.
