The fruit and structure of our 2020 Eruption Red Blend mirrors the rugged volcanic terrain on which these grapes are grown. Aromas of jammy blackberry, olallieberry, and plum are complimented by fresh cut cedar, and dried anise. Full bodied, rich fruit and spice flavors follow, with nicely astringent tannins for counterbalance.
Vineyard Notes
Adjacent to an ancient volcanic cinder cone and nestled into the remote eastern edge of High Valley, our Volcano Ridge vineyard features steep slopes and strikingly red volcanic soils. Originally planted in 2003 and 2004, the vineyard totals 85 acres and is planted to a sizable number of varietals, including Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Malbec, Petite Sirah, Mourvèdre, Grenache and Zinfandel. The vineyard elevation ranges from 1900 ft. to 2200 ft. The volcanic sands and tephra (small, fused sand pebbles) of the Konocti series make for excellent drainage. Vines struggle in these soils, and the intensity of that struggle is reflected in the layers of complexity and structure, in the concentrated fruit, and in the final expression of Volcano Ridge wines.
Winemaker Notes
At Brassfield Estate, our winemaking emphasizes quality and the use of traditional hand-crafted techniques, which create wines that have both power and finesse. The fruit for this blend was harvested in the early morning to maximize quality. The various components of Eruption were fermented separately in small lots to enhance the varietal attributes needed to produce the perfect blend. This blend was then aged on both French and American Oak for 10 months for structure and character. This wine was lightly fined and filtered before bottling.