Picayune Red Wine Blend Padlock – Sustainable

Claire Ducrocq Weinkauf, a French native grew up in Auvergne, France; the land of volcanoes and fabulous cheeses. Her family would typically start a meal with a glass of Sancerre and go on with some Morgon produced by family friends. She graduated from Toulouse Business School and started accumulating international experiences.

Inspired by the power of a Mouton Rothschild 1955, she earned a wine degree in Chile and then embarked for France to work harvest in St Emilion and the Côte du Rhône. While working in South America, she met Paul Hobbs, who hired her to work at Viña Cobos (His award-winning venture in Argentina). Then he brought her to California in 2006. After four years working with Paul Hobbs and numerous opportunities to taste amazing wines and meet wine industry leaders, Claire started a consulting company in 2010. Claire de Lune Consulting focuses on helping fantastic producers including Matthiasson Wines, Anomaly Vineyards, Morlet Family Estate, Cowhorn Winery, and more to grow their businesses. Claire lives in Calistoga with husband Aron Weinkauf-Winemaker at Spottswoode Winery and their son Hugo.

An elegant, round, and rich mid-palate with attractive texture and excellent acidity, Padlock, our Bordeaux blend, is sexy but well-balanced with good depth and length.  Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon – 34% Merlot – 13% Malbec

Fermentation:  10 -14 day fermentation in open-top and median-sized fermenters, all-cap irrigated with peak temps of between 80 -85 F. All wine was aged in 60-gallon French barrels for 15 months. Wines were racked every four months and assembled two months before bottling.

Intense fuchsia color, with an exuberant nose of ripe blackberries and cassis with hints of mocha aromas. In the palate, Padlock opens up on more dark fruits with seductive truffle and dark chocolate notes. The texture is rich and intricate, the tannins are firm.