Mission Hill 2011 Oculus Estate 750ml

Winemaker's Notes:

An OCULUS was first used by the Romans in buildings like the Pantheon - a window in a dome or wall to the outside. At Mission Hill, our oculus provides the only natural light into our underground barrel cellar, blasted out of volcanic rock that is otherwise hidden from the world. Our complex Oculus Bordeaux-style wine is the result of meticulous selection in the vineyard estate with grapes that have been specifically nurtured for this rare wine. Hand-sorted grapes are gravity-filled into specially constructed French oak fermenters before gently laying the wine to rest in individual barrels. Rich and powerful, this wine was sourced from designated Oculus blocks in our eastern Osoyoos (89%) and Oliver (11%) vineyard estates from low-yielding vines. Aged 13 months in small French oak barrels followed by an additional 15 months in bottle prior to release. 57 barrels produced.

2011 Oculus is ripe and powerful with racy tannins and serious grip, but polish and finesse as well due to great balancing acidity. The key to the vintage was to capture the freshness of the fruit, made possible by the subtle use of new French oak. The wine is broad and muscular, with lots of dark fig, boysenberry, damson plum and chocolate notes and a lingering finish of fruit, spice and mineral.

• Varietals: 71% Merlot, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Cabernet Franc
• Hand harvested from Osoyoos (89%) & Oliver (11%) vineyards in October 2011
• Fermentation & extended maceration in small French Oak Fermenters Barrel Origin: 100% French
• Barrel Aging: 13 months
• Alcohol %: 13.5
• Total Acidity: 5.8 g/l
• Bottled on: December 12, 2013