2012 Star Lane 'Astral', Star Lane Vineyard

WINEMAKER NOTES When searching for our best barrels and lots for Astral, over the years we have found ourselves gravitating toward own-rooted vineyard blocks. Most wine is grown on root species different than the above ground material. It has been this way since the later 19th century due to a soil born pest. Knowing pressure from this pest is reduced in our area, we have taken the risk to revisit what it might have been like to taste wine from those vines of 100 years past. We have observed that the vines do behave differently, and so does the wine. Namely the fruit permits longer skin contact without over-extraction, promotes classic Cabernet flavors with rich California textures, and integrates new oak at a much higher percentage allowing for increased complexity and age ability. The 2012 is nearly 100% own rooted as we just didn’t feel as though other components were contributing in a manner that added the right complexity (as it sometimes does in other years). This vintage is truly a rare breed, 100% Cabernet and a taste of growing from centuries past.