Hourglass HGIII Proprietary Blend Napa Valley 2019

ACME has been loving the wines from Hourglass and the people behind them since day one. In 2012, after one of the best vineyard managers in the business, Josh Clark, helped redesign Jeff & Carolyn Smith's Blueline Vineyard for Hourglass, newly appointed winemaker, Tony Biagi, made the decision to make a new blend for Hourglass called HGIII. This is a wine that is designed to be more approachable; a wine that gives you instant gratification while you patiently cellar-age their flagship bottlings. After a long tenure at PlumpJack and Cade making top scoring wines, Tony joined Hourglass in 2012 and continues to dominate the scene in the valley by making world class Napa Cabernet blends at Hourglass along with his own brand, Patria. HGIII is Tony’s riff on the Napa Valley red blend. Created with select lots from the Blueline Estate and carefully sourced vineyards in Napa Valley, HGIII embodies the deft balance of richness and vibrancy that is at the heart of what Hourglass does. Merlot offers sleek, approachable texture and bright red fruit components. Petite Sirah provides the anchoring bass notes of dark blue and black fruit, and Cabernet Sauvignon weaves these together with structural framing and elegant refinement. The 2019 greets with lifted aromatics of bright Bing cherry, dark plum, and cedar box, with subtle hints of Herbes de Provence, and cocoa powder. A medley of ripe black cherry, crushed blueberry and cola root burst forth on the palate, providing broad-shouldered, sumptuous texture. Rich and concentrated, yet balanced by lively acidity, a refined structure and well-integrated tannins, HGIII delivers an eminently drinkable wine at cork-pull.