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© CYCLES GLADIATOR WINES 2021

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Pinot Noir

varietal: 100% Pinot Noir

appellation: California (34% Edna Valley, 24% Napa Valley, 20% Santa Barbara County, 12% Monterey County, 10% Anderson Valley)

vintage: 2018

alcohol: 13.5%

ta:6.5 g/L

ph:3.40

Oak Regimen: 14 months in 20% new French wood. Balance in neutral oak.

Vintage Notes: 2018 provided ideal growing conditions for this early ripening varietal. It was a moderate summer throughout California allowing for balanced sugars and acidity.

Winemaker Notes: “It slipped down my throat like the little Lord Jesus dressed in velvet pantaloons” is a 400 year-old quote attributed to the Carmelite nuns of Burgundy when they described the sensation of drinking wine from their Burgundian vineyards. This may or may not be legend, but I’ve paraphrased this quote for years to describe my feelings when I drink wine from this grape.

Tasting Notes: Beautiful aromatics of cherry with a hint of sexy toasted oak. The flavors are lush and sweet with notes of black cherry, pomegranate, and strawberry.

Petite Sirah

varietal: 83% Petite Sirah, 15% Malbec, 2% Cabernet Franc

appellation: California (82% Lodi, 17% Lake County, 1% Napa Valley)

vintage: 2019

alcohol: 15%

ta:5.2g/l

ph:3.88

Oak Regimen: 14 months in 30% one-year-old American barrels

Winemaker Notes: Grapes were picked in the second half of October 2019. Color and tannin structure were near perfect. We made sure the fermenting grapes were not over-extracted by early pressing. Adam chose older oak because the flavors were so complimentary, and felt they should be highlighted.

Tasting Notes: Inky purple color all the way through. Aromas of boysenberry pie filling with notes of cinnamon and cedar. Ripe flavors of dark fruit at the front of the palate followed with notes of black cherry and blueberry jam. Fairly structured with a delicate acid thread and lush, melting tannins. Great mouthful of wine that has a pretty serious finish.

Merlot

varietal: 90% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot

appellation: California (90% Paso Robles, 10% Lodi)

vintage: 2019

alcohol: 15.0%

ta:0.57 g/100ml

ph:3.72

Oak Regimen: 32% once used French and American barrels, balance neutral oak

Vintage Notes: Frost during budbreak and rain during bloom presented some challenges in 2019 and cut back the crop by as much as 35%. This allowed the vine to concentrate its efforts on fewer grapes resulting in very good concentration and structure.

Winemaker Notes: The majority of fruit for this wine comes from the famed Margarita Vineyard. It’s nestled in the hills above the city of San Luis Obispo on the Central Coast of California. It is the coolest sub-appellation of Paso Robles and arguably has the longest growing season, which leads to wines with deeper color and broader tannins than in most other regions of the area.

Tasting Notes: Notes of black cherry, cocoa powder and herbes de Provence on the nose. Flavors start with red cherry and gradually move to plum and blackberry. Bright acidity and supple tannins wrap around the tongue in a lengthy finish. Pair with burgers, hearty bean dishes and any pastas with a strong red sauce or pesto intense wine with notes of black cherry, plum, herbes de Provence, and cedar box. Blast of red fruits on the palate suspended by a solid seam of acidity and fairly grippy tannins.

Chardonnay

varietal: Chardonnay

appellation: California (67% San Juan Creek, 17% Santa Margarita Ranch, 16% Edna Valley)

vintage: 2019

alcohol: 14.5%

ta:0.6 g/100ml

ph:3.48

Oak Regimen: 50% New French Oak, 50% American Oak

Winemaker Notes: The 2019 vintage was defined by a late harvest and small crop. All grapes were taken directly to press as whole clusters, gently pressed into tanks, cold-settled, racked as clean juice, and fermented over a two month period at very cool temperatures. Once primary fermentation completed, the lot from San Juan Creek went through a complete secondary fermentation.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of green apple and tropical fruits underscored with notes of toast and brioche. The flavors are ripe and round, with pineapple and mango being the predominant fruits. This is a particularly buttery Chardonnay that isn’t overtly cloying. Pretty notes of citrus supported by a solid core of acidity gives this wine a seamless structure.

Cabernet Sauvignon

varietal: 76% Cabernet, 14% Merlot, 10% Petit Verdot

appellation: California (76% Mendocino, 14% Paso Robles, 10% Clarksburg)

vintage: 2018

alcohol: 14.5%

ta:5.2 g/L

ph:3.98

Vintage Notes: 2018 was remarkable in that it is not only considered one of the highest quality years ever in California, it is also the largest harvest on record, which may help dispel the notion that quality is always inversely proportional to crop size. Everything was in balance throughout the growing season, and two weeks of 105+ degree weather towards the end of summer followed by more temperate temperatures delayed ripening for upwards of 5 weeks in some cases. This allowed for fully developed flavors, color, and tannins in the reds. It was clearly a remarkable year.

Winemaker Notes: Cycles Gladiator has cultivated relationships with some of the top growers in this great state, giving us access to exceptional wine sources and top-quality Cabernet. And, in the true spirit of the art of blending, We’ve taken the liberty of adding a small amount of Merlot and Petit Verdot to add some extra layers and complexity.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of dark riparian fruit like blackberry are infused with the faintest hint of minerality and cedar. Gobs of raspberry, plum, and black cherry flavors are fully supported with a generous thread of acidity. Tannins are pronounced but pleasingly supple.

Pinot Noir Can

varietal: Pinot Noir

appellation: California

vintage: NV

alcohol: 13.5%

ta:0.65 g/L

ph:3.53

Winemaker Notes: First and foremost, this wine must taste great cold with intense fruit flavors and, as it warms up, stays in balance. Second, the wine’s tannins had to be softened. They’re still there, but they’re in a form we call “melting tannins”. They’re so soft and supple that they could be confused for the fruit flavors. Perfect for your backpack, swimming pool, ice chest or for tossing in your bag before heading to a friend’s.

Tasting Notes: Flavors and aromatics of black cherry coca cola along with notes of red raspberry, pomegranate and rhubarb pie filling. Soft and supple and kind of refreshing. It’s also a pretty serious wine and can stand up to anything put in the bottle.