
2018 Lancaster Estate Nicole's Proprietary Red, Alexander Valley
Available exclusively to Lancaster Guild Members
Our Nicole’s Proprietary Red is crafted from the best barrels of our estate’s finest vineyard blocks. Careful lot selection and meticulous attention to detail make this wine the pinnacle of our Lancaster Estate portfolio. The 2018 Nicole’s consists of three of the Bordeaux varietals grown here: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Malbec. This wine opens with alluring aromas of dark plum, elderflower, sweet tobacco and black peppercorn. The palate is lush, full and well structured with notes of black cherry, plum, vanilla spice and a subtle graphite minerality. This wine should be decanted when young and can be cellared for 20+ years.
Composition
83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Merlot,5% Malbec
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Red Blends
Appellation
Alexander Valley
Acid
5.8 g/L
pH
3.46
Aging
24 months in 100%French oak
Alcohol %
14.5
Production Notes
Consistent with Lancaster Estate’s commitment to making wines of authenticity and place, all of our wines are estate grown, produced and bottled. Native yeasts are used for primary fermentation while secondary malolactic fermentation occurs naturally in barrel. To preserve the truest expression of our estate, the Lancaster Estate 2018 Nicole’s Proprietary Red was gently fined and then bottled unfiltered. The 2018 was aged 24 months in 100%French oak. We chose barrels from several coopers including Darnajou, Taransaud, and Nadalie.. 100% of the barrels were new and all were coopered using a combination of Medium, Medium Plus, Medium Long, and Heavy toast levels to provide optimal integration and balance.
Vineyard Notes
The Alexander Valley experienced another ideal growing season in 2018. The long season provided moderate temperatures for the grapes to ripen at the optimal speed. The result is an incredible vintage marked by clean, outstanding fruit characteristics with balanced acidity and sugar levels.
Production
657 cases