Red Blend "Thick Skinned", Banfi, Red Mountain, WA, 2016

Standing apart from the surrounding hills, Red Mountain’s southwest facing slopes encourage the grapes to ripen and develop their deep, dark skin color. It is during the fermentation process that these thick, sun-ripened skins reveal the distinctly lush textures and flavors locked inside. A Bordeaux style blend of bold character, Thick Skinned represents everything that Red Mountain has to offer.  Separate handpicked lots from Kiona’s “Heart of the Hill” vineyard are fermented in 3-5 ton fermenters. Each varietal is barrel aged in 50% new French oak for 6 months prior to blending. The wine is then returned to barrel for an additional 12 months of barrel aging. After bottling the wine is given a minimum of 12 months bottle age before release.