Denner Vineyards
The New Colossus 2024
Cabernet Sauvignon
Paso Robles, California
BOLD WINE STYLE
The New Colossus is built for structure and freshness. It’s lighter on new oak. making it ready to drink now. Expect licorice, dried herbs, and earth, with a long, savory finish.
Varietal: 76 % Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 6% Petite Sirah, 3% Merlot, 1% Cabernet Franc, 1% Tannat, 1% Malbec
Alcohol: 14.2% alcohol / volume
Acid: 5.8 g/L
pH: 3.69
Appellation: Paso Robles, California
Vineyards: 59% Sunnybrook Ranch, 16% Willow Creek, 4% Adelaida Estate, 21% from growers in Paso Robles
Fermentation: 2-3 day cold soak with pump-overs 3 times a day, 12-16 day total maceration, 100% destemmed
Aging: 15 months in oak barrel, 12% new oak
Accolades: 93 pts James Suckling
WINEMAKING NOTES:
The New Colossus is the younger sibling of Denner’s Mother of Exiles wine. Both blends are led by Cabernet Sauvignon with Petit Verdot for backbone, and built for structure and freshness. Even the names are linked: “The New Colossus” is Emma Lazarus’s poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty, and “Mother of Exiles” is what the poem calls Lady Liberty. The 2024 vintage was marked by a 10-day heatwave of 104°F or higher, leading to an early harvest. Growers faced issues like grape raisining and sunburn, impacting yields. The remaining grapes kept good acidity, wines are lighter and best enjoyed now than aged.
WINEMAKER:
Over the years, winemaker Anthony Yount made Denner into one of the great wineries of California through a combination of careful vineyard management (including dry-farming and organic practices) and non-interventionist winemaking. Today, Anthony continues his work at Denner as the consulting winemaker for head winemaker, Mark Williams. In the cellar, Denner takes cues from the old world, working with a percentage of whole-cluster in Rhone blends, relying on native yeasts for fermentation, and bottling their wines unfined and unfiltered. Of course, all of this is to translate, as faithfully as possible, the terroir of a great site, with Denner’s patchwork of calcareous clay vineyards soaring to more than 1,000 feet above sea level.
ABOUT THE DENNER VINEYARDS:
After searching across California for the ideal place to grow exceptional grapes, Ron Denner discovered the perfect site in Paso Robles’ Willow Creek District in 1997. He planted his first vines in 1999, later expanding to the Adelaida District. Completed in 2005, Denner Vineyards’ hillside estate features a tasting room and gravity-flow winery thoughtfully designed to blend with the surrounding landscape. Today, Denner’s vision continues to thrive in one of California’s premier winegrowing regions. Learn more about Denner’s story>
Photos and information © Denner Vineyards – All Rights Reserved.
Pride Mountain Vineyards
Merlot 2024
Napa County, California
BOLD WINE STYLE
The Pride Merlot bursts with aromas of sweet cherry, raspberry, and currants, accented by savory rosemary and delicate floral notes. The palate is fresh and vibrant, with tart Queen Anne cherry, hints of rich earth, and a lingering, elegant finish.
Varietals: 95% Merlot, 2% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot, 1% Cabernet Sauvignon
Appellation: Napa County, California
Alcohol: 14.6% alcohol / volume
Fermentation: Stainless steel tanks
Aging: French oak
Pairing Suggestions: Enjoy with grilled steak or lamb seasoned with rosemary, or savory mushroom dishes to complement the bright cherry and raspberry flavors, herbal notes, and earthy finish. Or enjoy as a relaxing end-of-day pour.
WINEMAKING NOTES:
The balance of fruit and herbs, with just a touch of floral, is the ideal profile for Merlot raised in the mountains. The tension and freshness of this wine become abundantly clear on the first sip as the fruit tilts to the firm, refreshingly tart, nature of Queen Anne cherries. The savory herbs ebb a bit as hints of rich earth come forward. These elements all marry perfectly with a pleasant and lingering finish. The result is a comforting wine that is as enjoyable now as it will be for the next 15 years.
THE VINEYARDS:
Pride Mountain Vineyards crafts expressive wines that reflect its unique high-elevation vineyards at 2,100 feet, where abundant sunshine, warm mornings, and cool afternoons create bold, deeply flavored reds with distinctive varietal character and refreshing acidity. Using traditional winemaking techniques that continue to evolve, Pride allows the character of its mountain-grown grapes to shine through, creating wines that are unmistakably their own. Learn more about Pride Mountains wine making philosophy>
ABOUT PRIDE MOUNTAIN FOUNDERS:
Pride Mountain Vineyards began as a retirement dream for founders Jim and Carolyn Pride, who purchased Historic Summit Ranch in the Mayacamas Mountains in 1989, initially planning to grow grapes for local wineries. Their ambitious weekend project soon became a full-time passion, as they planted vineyards, built a winery, and learned the art of winemaking. Jim’s entrepreneurial spirit and Carolyn’s dedication helped transform the rugged mountain property into a celebrated winery, welcoming its first guests in 1998. After Jim’s passing in 2004, their children, dedicated staff, and the next generations carried their vision forward, preserving the family spirit and commitment to distinctive mountain-grown wines. Learn more about Jim and Carolyn journey>
Photos and information © Pride Wines – All Rights Reserved.
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