August 2025 2 Reds – Cellar
EL JARDIN DE
LA EMPERATRIZ
VARIETALS 95% Tempranillo, 4% Garnacha, 1% Viura
VINTAGE 2020
REGION Rioja Alta, Rioja, Spain
TECHNICAL DATA Alcohol 14% Total acidity 5.5 g/l pH 3.70
APPEARANCE
Ruby color with bright garnet reflections. NOSE On the nose, it greets us with the scents of dark fruits such as blackberries and plums, all enshrouded in a hint of ripeness that conjures images of woodland berries at their peak of maturity.
PALATE
On the palate, it is succulent and brimming with vitality, accentuated by subtle infusion of spices and a whisper of smoke that contributes to its complexity.
AGEING
15 months in American (70%) and French (30%) oak barrels.
PAIRING
Charcuterie, red meats, roasted lamb and sheep cheese.
Iron Sand 2022
VINEYARDS
Our Cabernet Sauvignon is sustainably sourced from renowned Paso Robles vineyards located in prime sub-AVAs.
CAGLIERO VINEYARD & ESTRELLA RIVER RANCH VINEYARD, SAN MIGUEL DISTRICT AVA
The majority of the grapes come from the San Miguel District, the northern most sub-AVA in the greater Paso Robles region. This area was named after the San Miguel Mission, built by Franciscan missionaries in the late 1700s. Fruit from this region is subject to the effects of large diurnal shifts, sometimes experiencing a swing as large as 50 degrees, helping to enhance the beautiful acidity in the fruit. The deep alluvial, sandy soils, combined with being one of the warmer AVAs in the Paso Robles region, makes for ripe fruit with smooth, supple tannins.
STEFFANO II VINEYARD, EL POMAR DISTRICT AVA
About 9% of the grapes come from the family-owned Steffano II Vineyard (formerly known as Parrish Templeton) in the El Pomar District, south of the city of Paso Robles and east of the Templeton Gap, where sea breezes and marine fog help to cool the vineyards at nights. Comprised of clay, granite and calcareous soils, this site creates beautifully balanced fruit with enhanced structure.
GROWING SEASON
The 2022 vintage was dominated by two major climatic factors: drought and a late harvest season. These conditions, combined with a heat spike in August and September, led to a quick ripening season. Despite the challenges, this vintage presented exceptional fruit quality, great acidity and complex, balanced flavors that deliver a classic Paso Robles Cabernet Sauvignon.
WINEMAKING
After careful harvesting, grapes were brought to the winery for processing. Our unique winery set up, with fermenters situated on top of storage tanks, allows for minimal pump usage while sending pomace to our press. The wine underwent three pump overs per day, with each lot receiving custom scheduling to ensure appropriate levels of extraction to fully take advantage of the vineyards’ terroir. A small portion of the wine (less than 6%) was placed into first year French and American oak, contributing to palate weight, a smooth texture and mouthfeel complexity. The rest of the wine was aged in neutral barrels for 10-11 months allowing for the extraordinary Paso Robles terroir to shine through in the final blend.
TASTING NOTES
Dense purple in color, this wine opens with aromas of ripe red fruits, cherries, anise, cedar, savory spice, roasted coffee, and tobacco. The wine is velvety and lush presenting delicious flavors of raspberry, cherry and plum with warm baking spice, earthy undertones, and a hint of vanilla. The flavors are complemented by lively acidity and fine tannins that lift the wine suggesting a long life. The finish is long, supple and mouthwatering. This Paso Robles Cabernet is the perfect match for local almond wood grilled chicken with a side of stone ground grits, roasted poblano chiles and pepper jack cheese.
