Winemaker Notes

The 2017 in Order to form a more perfect Union is a beautifully complexed, dense, impeccably balanced wine. It is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, and 9% Petit Verdot. The wine is vibrant, deeply colored, full-bodied with complex notes of cassis, red fruits, blueberry, pencil lead, gravel, smoldering incense, eucalyptus, cedar, tobacco, and dried sage.

Technical Details

The wine had a pre-fermentation maceration average of 175 hours and a post-fermentation maceration average of 274 hours. 100% Native fermentation. The wine was punched down by hand 2 times each day during macerations and fermentation. All individual wine components, including free run and press fractions, were kept separate until final blending. The oak profile is 70% new French oak puncheons (predominantly from Troncais and Alliers) and 30% neutral French oak. No fining agents were employed. The wine was very lightly filtered to capture any remaining lees. The alcohol is 14.140%, pH is 3.74, and the titratable acidity is 6.1g/L. Harvest dates: Various.

Reviews

96 Points - The More Perfect Union Red Wine from winemaker Billo Naravane, who also happens to be a Master of Wine, is a blend of 49% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, with the rest being Petit Verdot. A more red-fruited effort with notes of macerated wild strawberries, spiced red plum, sweet exotic spices, and black tea on the nose, while flavors of dried eucalyptus, boysenberry preserves, and earth tones hit the palate. It’s still a baby with grippy tannins, but the perfect levels of acidity balance everything out. Highly recommended. Jeremy Young, International Wine Report

95 Points - In this vintage Billo Naravane has blended in 9% Petit Verdot which is the most in any vintage. The palate is seamless and dense with a massive core of dark fruit and non-fruit character. Tobacco, tar, leather, anise and creme de cassis all collide with minerals and scorched earthy tones on the palate. Generous but exceedingly well-balanced, this outstanding new bottling has a really long ways to go in the cellar. Drink 2022-2038. Owen Bargreen

Cases - 126