Los Osos

Paso Robles saw a fourth consecutive year of low rainfall in 2015. The dry conditions experienced locally mirrored the extreme climatic trends witnessed across the entire state of California. Budbreak was early, as is typical in dry years, with vines coming out of dormancy in mid-March. Good growing conditions in April brought rapid shoot growth, but were followed by an unusually cold period in early May that reduced our Merlot crop yield by roughly 30% due to shatter. This lighter crop ripened readily, with the earliest pick occurring on September 10th, and the final pick on the 26th. The top lots for Los Osos move quickly from the press pan to the barrel room, where they finish malolactic fermentation in new oak barrels. A month later these barrels are reblended to incorporate the Malbec component, before the entire blend returns to the barrel room for a year of rest. The 2015 Los Osos Merlot can be splash decanted to open up its full aroma potential at your table.