Nine Suns'Sunbird' Estate Red 2018

This second vintage of 'Sunbird' is made by Lloyd Matthews and consulting winemaker Philippe Melka and comes from their estate Houyi Vineyard. Since planting the vineyard, it continues to be farmed meticulously by David Abreu and his vineyard management team. At nearly 1,400 feet above sea level on southward sloping acreage on Pritchard Hill, Houyi Vineyard sits above the fog, basking in the morning sunshine. The red volcanic soil is exceptionally rocky, making vineyard development and farming extremely difficult. However, the efforts are well worth it, as the well-drained soils provide an environment for the vines to produce incredibly concentrated fruit. Houyi Vineyard is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Malbec, Petit Verdot, as well as a few small blocks of Grenache and Syrah, totaling 22 acres. This 2018 Estate Red offers “a deep rich color that coats the glass. Aromatics of dark berries, violets, bramble with mocha to finish. This is a powerful yet precise wine. The fine tannins and balanced acidity keep this wine delivering every time and will continue to do so for many years to come.”