Many winemakers are hailing the 2018 vintage as a return to “normal”. Bracketed by two years of rising temperatures and destructive wildfires in 2017 and 2019, 2018 was comparatively calm, cool, and late.
The year began with a relatively warm February before giving way to a cold spring and moderate growing conditions throughout the season. A cooler spring often means that the bloom period is extended and can leave an opening for interrupting fruit set with late showers. However, despite a couple of incidents elsewhere in the state, Sonoma County was left relatively untouched.
The moderate temperatures continued into harvest allowing for full phenolic ripeness to develop and the luxury of picking the grapes when they were mature rather than trying to beat the heat. Most areas report picking 2-3 weeks later than recent vintages and winemakers are expecting the 2018 wines to showcase as one of the best vintages in the twenty-teens. Keep an eye out for the wines and compare them to the other banner years of the decade, 2012 and 2016, to see what the best vintages of the past ten years have to offer.
Many winemakers are hailing the 2018 vintage as a return to “normal”. Bracketed by two years of rising temperatures and destructive wildfires in 2017 and 2019, 2018 was comparatively calm, cool, and late.
The year began with a relatively warm February before giving way to a cold spring and moderate growing conditions throughout the season. A cooler spring often means that the bloom period is extended and can leave an opening for interrupting fruit set with late showers. However, despite a couple of incidents elsewhere in the state, Sonoma County was left relatively untouched.
The moderate temperatures continued into harvest allowing for full phenolic ripeness to develop and the luxury of picking the grapes when they were mature rather than trying to beat the heat. Most areas report picking 2-3 weeks later than recent vintages and winemakers are expecting the 2018 wines to showcase as one of the best vintages in the twenty-teens. Keep an eye out for the wines and compare them to the other banner years of the decade, 2012 and 2016, to see what the best vintages of the past ten years have to offer.
Many winemakers are hailing the 2018 vintage as a return to “normal”. Bracketed by two years of rising temperatures and destructive wildfires in 2017 and 2019, 2018 was comparatively calm, cool, and late.
The year began with a relatively warm February before giving way to a cold spring and moderate growing conditions throughout the season. A cooler spring often means that the bloom period is extended and can leave an opening for interrupting fruit set with late showers. However, despite a couple of incidents elsewhere in the state, Sonoma County was left relatively untouched.
The moderate temperatures continued into harvest allowing for full phenolic ripeness to develop and the luxury of picking the grapes when they were mature rather than trying to beat the heat. Most areas report picking 2-3 weeks later than recent vintages and winemakers are expecting the 2018 wines to showcase as one of the best vintages in the twenty-teens. Keep an eye out for the wines and compare them to the other banner years of the decade, 2012 and 2016, to see what the best vintages of the past ten years have to offer.
Many winemakers are hailing the 2018 vintage as a return to “normal”. Bracketed by two years of rising temperatures and destructive wildfires in 2017 and 2019, 2018 was comparatively calm, cool, and late.
The year began with a relatively warm February before giving way to a cold spring and moderate growing conditions throughout the season. A cooler spring often means that the bloom period is extended and can leave an opening for interrupting fruit set with late showers. However, despite a couple of incidents elsewhere in the state, Sonoma County was left relatively untouched.
The moderate temperatures continued into harvest allowing for full phenolic ripeness to develop and the luxury of picking the grapes when they were mature rather than trying to beat the heat. Most areas report picking 2-3 weeks later than recent vintages and winemakers are expecting the 2018 wines to showcase as one of the best vintages in the twenty-teens. Keep an eye out for the wines and compare them to the other banner years of the decade, 2012 and 2016, to see what the best vintages of the past ten years have to offer.
Many winemakers are hailing the 2018 vintage as a return to “normal”. Bracketed by two years of rising temperatures and destructive wildfires in 2017 and 2019, 2018 was comparatively calm, cool, and late.
The year began with a relatively warm February before giving way to a cold spring and moderate growing conditions throughout the season. A cooler spring often means that the bloom period is extended and can leave an opening for interrupting fruit set with late showers. However, despite a couple of incidents elsewhere in the state, Sonoma County was left relatively untouched.
The moderate temperatures continued into harvest allowing for full phenolic ripeness to develop and the luxury of picking the grapes when they were mature rather than trying to beat the heat. Most areas report picking 2-3 weeks later than recent vintages and winemakers are expecting the 2018 wines to showcase as one of the best vintages in the twenty-teens. Keep an eye out for the wines and compare them to the other banner years of the decade, 2012 and 2016, to see what the best vintages of the past ten years have to offer.
The 2016 vintage marked a “return to normalcy” for many in Sonoma County. After the disastrous yields of 2015, most vineyards saw closer to average tonnage and the rains that followed the harvest were more than welcome to alleviate the drought. Favorable weather allowed for even ripening and full phenolic development without being pressured by extreme heat spikes, as with previous vintages.
Winemaker Notes
Impressively balanced and beautifully aromatic, the 2016 B.A. Thieriot features the classic minerality and quince palate that is a signature of the vineyard. On the palate, this wine is gorgeous and intriguing with hints of citrus and stone fruit. The powerful fruit is rounded out by a moderate acidity and a lingering finish.
The 2016 vintage marked a “return to normalcy” for many in Sonoma County. After the disastrous yields of 2015, most vineyards saw closer to average tonnage and the rains that followed the harvest were more than welcome to alleviate the drought. Favorable weather allowed for even ripening and full phenolic development without being pressured by extreme heat spikes, as with previous vintages.
Winemaker Notes
This is our newest bottling and there’s a reason for it. Named as an homage to the town where we all grew up, Occidental served as the tenth stop on the North Pacific Coast Railroad. Bright, texture-driven with slight hints of tropical fruit, citrus peel and mineral. Its brightness is rounded by a smooth mouthfeel and delicious weight. Incredibly focused and drinking beautifully, this wine will age and mature elegantly.
Planted in 2008 by vineyard manager Ulises Valdez, El Diablo vineyard sits on a ridge above Eastside Road in Russian River Valley. Early in their relationship, he told the Senses team that “when you work hard, the fruit always tastes better.” That holds very true for El Diablo.
Chardonnay (Old Wente Selection) planted in 2008
4×6 spacing
Gravelly and Sandy Loam with Tight Clay Subsoil
Sustainably farmed by Ulises Valdez & Sons
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Hillcrest “Day One” Pinot noir
Vintage Notes
The 2016 vintage marked a “return to normalcy” for many in Sonoma County. After the disastrous yields of 2015, most vineyards saw closer to average
tonnage and the rains that followed the harvest were more than welcome to alleviate the drought. Favorable weather allowed for even ripening and full
phenolic development without being pressured by extreme heat spikes, as with previous vintages.
Winemaker Notes
The Hillcrest Vineyard: where Senses started from day one. We decided that moving forward this wine deserved a special designation. After much thought (and wine) it was clear. “Day One” was the perfect fit. Hillcrest is where the three of us rolled up our sleeves, hand farmed and harvested the entire vineyard and created our very first vintage of Senses Pinot Noir.
“Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Day One has a very pretty nose of red roses and lavender over a core of crushed red cherries, raspberries and wild thyme with a waft of dusty soil. Medium-bodied with a very ripe, fine-grained frame and seamless freshness lifting the layered floral and red berry flavors, it finishes wonderfully fragrant.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 93+ points
The 2016 vintage marked a “return to normalcy” for many in Sonoma County. After the disastrous yields of 2015, most vineyards saw closer to average
tonnage and the rains that followed the harvest were more than welcome to alleviate the drought. Favorable weather allowed for even ripening and full
phenolic development without being pressured by extreme heat spikes, as with previous vintages.
Winemaker Notes
From the famed vineyard formerly known as Keefer Ranch, we bring you the MCM88 Pinot Noir; an exuberant Russian River single vineyard Pinot Noir from the block originally farmed by Kosta Browne.Our boldest Pinot noir yet comes from a very special block in a very special vineyard now known as Perry Ranch. This addition to the Senses family stands apart from its’ siblings with greater concentration and richness. We are very excited about this wine and have named it accordingly: MCM stands for Max, Chris and Myles and doubles for the roman numerals of 1900, which when added to ‘88 marks our birth year of 1988.
“Medium ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir MCM88 gives exuberant black raspberries, mulberries and crushed blueberries notes with hints of baking spices, anise, chocolate box, and menthol. Medium to full-bodied, it fills the palate with generous black and blue fruits with plenty of spicy accents and a refreshing line, finishing long and
silken textured.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 94+ points
The 2016 vintage marked a “return to normalcy” for many in Sonoma County. After the disastrous yields of 2015, most vineyards saw closer to average tonnage and the rains that followed the harvest were more than welcome to alleviate the drought. Favorable weather allowed for even ripening and full phenolic development without being pressured by extreme heat spikes, as with previous vintages.
Winemaker Notes
“Pale ruby-purple colored, the 2016 Pinot Noir Terra de Promissio Vineyard opens with fragrant earth and dried herbs notions over a core of red cherries, pomegranate, rhubarb, and underbrush plus a waft of mossy bark. Light to medium-bodied with great freshness and understated, earthy flavors, it has a fine-grained frame and mineral-laced finish.” – Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate: 91+ points
The Oakville region is known for producing some of the most sought after wines from the Napa Valley and is considered the ‘heart and soul of Napa Valley,’ where the up-valley warmth is balanced by the coolness from the southern appellations. This unique terroir produces Cabernet deep in color, with velvety tannic structure and balanced acids. Known for its rich and complex soils, Oakville Cabernet exudes dark fruits and blackcurrant. Thomas produces this limited Senses Cabernet in the quintessential Oakville style, aging the wine for 20 months in 100% new French oak which adds smoothness and nuances of dried fruits and spices.
