Notes From The Winemaker:
Vintage:
The 2006 growing season was marked by extreme weather patterns, including a wet and cool spring
and a long, hot, dry summer. These factors contributed to excellent acid levels in the grapes, balanced canopies, and small, concentrated berries with bold flavors. Vinification Grapes were sorted, then gently crushed, with lots fermented separately on the skins for an average of seven to 10 days. A variety of fermentation techniques (both punchdown and pumpover) were used to extract the best flavors. The wine was removed from the skins and placed into 62% French and 38% American oak barrels, all new. Racking occurred every three months during the 16-month aging period, and the international winemaking team of Resident Winemaker Marcus Notaro and Co-
Winemakers Doug Gore and Renzo Cotarella tasted through the best wine lots to create the final blend of Merlot (56%), Cabernet Sauvignon (36%), and Syrah (8%).
Winemaker’s Notes:
Aromas of bing cherry, plum, and dried fruits lead into a silky smooth palate with lots of fruit, particularly cherry, and a touch of spice on the long, seductive finish.
– Marcus Notaro, Resident Winemaker
BLEND: 56% Merlot, 36% Cabernet Sauvignon, 8% Syrah
Ratings & Reviews
“Velvety in texture, this is rich with coffee and sandalwood accents to its supple blackberry and currant fruit, lingering generously. Stylish and deftly balanced. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2018. 1,000 cases made.” HS (Jun 15, 2011)
90 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2008 vintage):
“The 2008 Shining Hills is a blend of declassified Col Solare lots aged for 17 months in 50% new French and American oak. It is a blend of 66% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Merlot, with the balance Syrah and Cabernet Franc. Savory, ripe, and elegant, this nicely balanced, mouth-filling, effort has enough structure to evolve for 1-2 years and will provide pleasure from 2012 to 2023.” – Jay Miller (Aug 2010)
90 Points – Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate (2009 vintage):
“The 2009 Shining Hill was produced from declassified fruit. A blend of 69% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, and dollops of Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, it saw only 10% new oak. Cedar, spice box, tobacco, rose petal, and assorted black fruits inform the nose of a supple, forward, elegant wine with enough underlying structure to evolve for 1-2 years. It can be approached now but will drink well for a decade.” – Jay Miller (Aug 2011)
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