2016 Promontory

In the early 1980s while hiking along Oakville’s southwestern ridge, H. William Harlan discovered an isolated territory. The hidden expanse ancient and untamed moved him deeply, but remained elusive until the Harlan family finally captured it in 2008. As the second generation explored and worked with the land, they began to make discoveries of their own. At the core of this wild terrain they found a powerful geologic convergence, which had shaped its steep, rugged topography, and created the conditions for an altogether exotic winegrowing environment. Over time they found that the dramatic landscape just beyond the edge of the known would slowly change them, and ultimately inspire a new endeavor: Promontory . Wines from hillsides of Promontory reflect the many aspects of the territory: the native forests, the moisture of the ephemeral fog, and the minerality of the geologic underpinnings. These disparate facets in symphony provide a natural balance of freshness, energy, and tannin. We believe these traits, in wine, are the building blocks of great vitality and long life. Growing Season After five years of drought, the winter leading into vintage 2016 brought with it generous and muchwelcomed rainfall. Budbreak at Promontory began on March 15th, and the growing season proved highly favorable ; mild temperatures were punctuated by a few stretches of more marked warmth throughout June and July. The comparatively cool temperatures at the territory in conjunction with the dynamic movement of fog, interspersed with sunshine throughout the late summer months extended ripening, making 2016 one of the longest seasons to date. A healthy amplitude in diurnal temperatures gently coaxed the fruit towards vibrancy and ripeness, with harvest beginning on September 12th. The 2016 harvest consisted of sixty four distinct passes, with the upper ridgeline blocks ripening first, followed by those planted on metamorphic soils further down our east facing slope. Tasting Notes Initially subtle, aromas of wet rock along with native flora and lichen emerge vividly, mingling with airy notes of the forest canopy. Wrapped in extremely fine tannin, the structure of this vintage evokes the image of a cathedral: intricate stone, cool to the touch, draws attention upward to soaring arches filled with light. The flow over the palate is elevated by this luminous, detailed structure, to where the wine feels almost weightless . As we are finding to be typical of Promontory, a mineral drive sustains and focuses its path into a lasting finish. Even now, the 2016 vintage achieves a natural elegance, while its energy and stature promise a long and storied lifetime ahead. David Cilli , Winemaker

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