Named for the branding iron owned by the proprietor, the eight-and-a-half acre Branding Iron Vineyard lies in western Oakville, close to the base of the Mayacamas Mountains. The vineyard is comprised of well-drained clay loam and the vines are vertically trellised to maximize sunlight and open the canopy. The area’s warm climate and sun exposure in both the morning and afternoon are perfect for slowly ripening the fruit, which often benefits from a long hang time.

Similar to 2012, warm days and cool, foggy nights prevailed, offering the perfect conditions for fruit and tannin maturity. The season began about 10 days ahead of last year and the vines looked well balanced going into the summer. The vineyard only needed a small crop adjustment in August, then warm summer temperatures ripened the fruit. The younger block developed flavors early, so we harvested in early October, allowing the older block to hang another 10 days for tannin development.