
2016 Kuleto Estate Sangiovese, Napa Valley
Winemaker Notes
Vintage 2016 gave us yet another beautiful vintage in the Napa Valley. This is following the fabulous vintages of 2012-2015.
Marked by a few late-season heat spells, the wines are as opulent as the 2012s, with the concentration of the 2014s.
At Kuleto Estate, three clones of Sangiovese are planted in three separate blocks and each bring a unique character to the
blend. The Deloreto selection is perhaps the most unusual with its saturated bright red color, floral notes, and tremendous
acidity. The Trentadue and Shafer selections contribute mouth-filling tannin and deeper, darker aromas and flavors. In
2015, we co-fermented a portion of the Sangiovese with some Zinfandel to flesh out the mid-palate and provide some even
darker aromatic highlights.
Our 2016 Sangiovese is a wonderful representation of warm days on our mountain estate. On the nose, aromas of bright
cherry, strawberry and ripe tomato lead to savory notes of tealeaves and dried herbs. The palate offers vibrant acidity and is
swarming with flavors of fresh red fruit and clove spice from the Hungarian oak aging. Well-developed tannins fill the
mouth and lead to a very smooth finish.
Composition
80% Sangiovese, 16% Zinfandel, 4% Petite Sirah
Wine Specs
Vintage
2016
Varietal
Sangiovese
Appellation
Napa Valley
Acid
6.3 g/L
pH
3.7
Aging
18 months in 20% new Hungarian François Frères 500L puncheons
Alcohol %
14.5