2015 Penultimate

Although the 2015 Penultimate is the youngest wine in this tasting, it is also the most approachable because of the warmth of the year. Exotic and ripe, the 2015 has an extra kick of mid-palate sweetness that makes it a total pleasure to taste today. Inky dark fruit, spice, dried herbs, crushed rocks and licorice capture the interplay of richness and savoriness that is a signature of warmer years here. The growing season had plenty of challenges, starting with cold weather early on and significant shatter that lowered yields considerably. A blast of heat at the end of the season accelerated ripening and led to a harvest that was a good week earlier than normal. The 2015 is a thrilling, hedonistic wine that hits all the right notes. (AG)