Tasting Notes

While the 2019 growing season was largely even-tempered and uneventful, the true coastal vineyards that usually comprise Small Town gave up very little of their treasure. In other words, it was excellent fruit, but there was frustratingly little of it.

Since winemaking at EK is never a paint-by-numbers affair, we augmented the lower yields with a bit more juice from our inland sources, namely the excellent Roberts Road and Stiling vineyards. The result keeps true to the character of Small Town, yet adds a touch of darker fruit and a more sumptuous, creamy finish.

Loads of ripe Bing cherry give way to black plum and blackberry, while clove and cardamom augment the classically vibrant cool climate personality of pepper, bramble and forest floor. Oak influence comes through as suppleness on the midpalate and nothing more. Chalk that up to double-sized barrels (puncheons) from a preferred French cooper tailor made for this fruit.

Certainly one of the more sultry iterations of Small Town that will be hard to resist on release, but we implore you to hang on to some to witness its brilliant future.

DRINKING WINDOWS

Prime drinking: Late 2021 through 2029+
Graceful ageability: 2031+