Z Alexander Brown Red Blend Uncaged

Description

”WINE UNCAGED The owl is a guardian of the vine, and myths say it is present when the spirit is set free. A powerful symbol, the owl carries meaning on many levels for Zac Brown, a GRAMMY Award-winning artist whose creative spirit knows no boundaries. Inspired by homegrown values and a lifelong connection to the land, Zacs passion for bringing music, food and people together ignited a natural gateway to wineand a freedom to create. Bold and uncaged, Z. Alexander Brown unleashes a new palate-provoking wine rooted in the heart of California wine country.WINEMAKERS NOTE Dark garnet in the glass, commanding aromas of blueberry, caramel and toasted oak preview a bold, mouth-filling palate stacked with concentrated layers of ripe dark fruit, black cherry and milk chocolate. Robust and full-bodied with excellent weight in the mid-palate, this complex wine leaves a lasting impression with a smooth, round and full finish.Winemaker, John KillebrewVINTAGE If winemakers were asked to describe the 2015 North Coast vintage in a few words, they would be early, light and excellent. A mild winter forced an early bud break, followed by a prolonged bloom and unusually cool spring temperatures that produced smaller berries, fewer clusters and therefore, reduced yields compared to the last three record-breaking vintages. After a hot, dry summer, a temperature spike in late August accelerated ripening and harvest to be a couple weeks earlier than usual. All of these elements resulted in concentrated flavors, balanced acidity and intense aromatics for the 2015 vintage.WINEMAKING Throughout the growing season, winemaker John Killebrew visited each vineyard block regularly. The fruit for Z. Alexander Brown was harvested during the cool early morning hours to ensure that the concentrated fruit flavors were captured at the peak of ripeness. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed, moved into stainless steel tanks and slowly warmed to fermentation temperatures. Following the completion of primary and malolactic fermentation, the wine was drained and gently pressed into American and French oak. The final blend for this boldly flavored wine was thoughtfully crafted by John and Zac as a result of multiple hands-on tastings and blending sessions featuring a selection of the best lots of the vintage.”- Zac Brown, proprietor and John Killebrew, winemaker