Hilltop

Early seasonal rains were short of average, but the timing was ideal for vine health and wine quality in 2016. Every phenological marker, from budbreak in spring to bloom and veraison in the summer, occurred 1 to 2 weeks earlier than normal. Cabernet buds pushed around the middle of March, following heavy rains earlier in the month. The vine canopy growth propelled through the spring, bouyed by additional light rains in April and an ideal bloom period in early May. Tannin structure for 2016 was amplified by a warm veraison period beginning thethird week of July. Good ripening weather brought the Hilltop Cabernet harvest in early, with our highest elevation blocks harvested the second week of October showing the dark color and ripe fruit flavors this wine is known for.