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.

Oak Regimen: 20 months in new American oak. Balance in once-used and neutral oak.

Winemaker Notes: Adam was able to pull together a collection of East side Paso Robles vineyards for the expressive fruit-driven component and Lodi for massive, over-the-top structure and depth. Nice combination.

Tasting Notes: Thick and inky with a deep purple intensity of color. Blueberry and blackberry pie aromas with a slight graphite note. Flavors are of black riparian fruits with a massive creamy texture. Soft and seamless with a surprisingly zesty finish that carries the flavors well into the finish.

Oak Regimen: 16 months with 15%new French, 20% new American oak. Balance neutral oak

Vintage Notes: 2018 was the largest harvest on the Central Coast in history. It is also being perceived as one of the highest quality years ever recorded, which pokes holes in the theory that quality is inversely proportional to crop size. Perfect growing season with ample spring rains and moderate late summer temperatures.

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: Deeply 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.

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

Winemaker Notes: Adam aged this wine Sur leis for 14 months with batonnage once a month for 11 months. 85% of the wine went through Malolactic fermentation.

Tasting Notes: Aromas of peach and apricot with notes of bosc pear and apple and a hint of toasted oak. Strong flavors of green apples, tropical fruits and marzipan. Extended lees aging adds a rich mouthfeel but the acid carries the day. Pair with fettuccine alfredo, Atlantic Sole, and fried chicken.

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.

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.