2010 Aleksander

The 2010 Aleksander is a wine of intensity, balance and structure, much like proprietor and two-time NBA Champion Sasha Vujacic. Composed primarily of Merlot grown on his family’s low-yield estate vineyard and blended with Cabernet Sauvignon, this full-bodied Paso Robles wine expresses the region's award-winning, world-class  character that derives from its long, warm summer days matched by crisp, cool nights. The rolling acres of the property are lined with rows of southern-exposure vines rooted in a combination of sand and clay loam. Grapes were hand-harvested October 1, 2010, hand-sorted, gently de-stemmed, crushed and fermented separately for two weeks in a combination of open-top, half-ton bins and small stainless steel tanks. Hand punch-downs and pump-overs were performed twice a day until completion of fermentation. After 30 days, Merlot and Cabernet were each pressed directly  into separate barrels and aged for 18 months.

Aleksander is remarkable for its rich component of blackberry fruit, hints of tobacco and dark coffee and lengthy finish of earth and spice.