Vineyard update from Round Pond Winery

Over the last 25 years of doing business in Wine Country we have developed a lot of very close relationships with the wineries that we work with. Due to this relationship, they have been known to go out of their way to let us know how things are going during the growing season. Below, you will find one of those examples.

This vineyard update comes from Muiris Griffin, the Estate Winemaker at Round Pond Winery. We have been selling Round Pond wines to our clients for a number of years and they have been a HUGE hit with them. From the crispness of their Sauvignon Blancs to the boldness of their Rutherford Cabs, Round Pond makes stellar wines. Learn more about Round Pond HERE. 

“The 2015 growing season started off with very warm weather which accelerated the development of the vines. Bud break was recorded 2 weeks in advance, one of the earliest on record, and the vine started growing vigorously and steadily. The warm days and mild nights, ideal conditions for the vine, continued until mid-April during flowering when we started to experience colder than average days. These conditions are not ideal for fruit set, however we were fortunate to have set a healthy crop load at our site. This will give us the opportunity to perform a “vendange on vert” or fruit thinning, removing undesired clusters from the vine and allowing the vine to focus on ripening only the very best fruit to carry through to harvest.

Conditions have improved considerably since fruit set. Days have been very warm without getting too hot, which could potentially cause some sunburn, and the vines have plenty of water to carry through until the end of the growing season. We are looking forward to another potentially great harvest for 2015!”

– Muiris Griffin, Estate Winemaker

Muiris Griffin’s (pronounced Muir-ish) passion for fine wine was first fueled during his time at the Université de Paul Valery in France. As his knowledge grew, so did his determination to make wine his life’s work. He jumped at the chance to work harvest for a family friend at a seventh generation distillery in Cognac. The following year he returned home to work for Margo Von Staavern at Chateau St. Jean, inspired by the delicate care taken in the crafting of one of their signature wines, Cinq Cepages.

After two years at Chateau St. Jean, Muiris returned to France to pursue an advanced winemaking education at the CFPPA in Bordeaux. He earned his Viticulture-Enology degree while also interning at the earliest established wine estate in Bordeaux, Chateau Pape Clement, during their 703rd vintage. At Vin-Expo, an annual trade show in Bordeaux, Muiris had a chance encounter with Opus One winemaker Michael Silacci, which led to him running Opus One’s “Maturity Project” for 2009. Muiris went on to work as the Assistant Winemaker at Ridge Vineyards working alongside legendary winemaker Paul Draper and team.

Round Pond Wines

2013 Round Pond ‘Kith & Kin’ Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa Valley

Wine Spectrum 93+: A balanced Cabernet Sauvignon ideal for an evening glass to help unwind your day or for a meal any day of the week, this wine makes its intentions known with aromas of bright strawberry, raspberry, and cranberry followed by notes of black cherry, toasted oak and vanilla. The lush full entry teases the palate with a confectionery blend of red fruits and then evolves into a dark full bodied Cabernet. The Kith & Kin gracefully finishes with balanced acids and lingering red fruit, allowing this wine to be approachable and easy to drink early on yet also retain elegance and finesse. 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 12% Petit Verdot, 5% Petite Sirah. 

2014 Round Pond Sauvignon Blanc, Rutherford

Wine Spectrum 93: Powerfully perfumed, the bright nose shows intense aromatics of lychee, melon, ripe white peach and amaretto. The palate is equally as bright with a booming fruit entry of crisp apple, grapefruit and Asian pear, intensified by notes of stone fruit and lime curd through the mid palate. This wine is beautifully balanced with crisp acidity giving way to more depth and richness as you sip. The finish exhibits rich tropical fruit flavors along with a hint of minerality to give this wine great length and texture.

2012 Round Pond Cabernet Sauvignon, Rutherford

Wine Spectrum 94+: This rich and inviting wine is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Petit Verdot, and Malbec. Complex and elegant aromatics of black cherry, ripe strawberries and raspberry tart are complimented by nuances of cola, vanilla, licorice and dusty cocoa. On entry, the palate is loaded with intense candied fruit composed of fleshy plums and ripe red berries. The mid-palate features darker fruit that give way to hints of caramel and roasted almonds with well-rounded tannins and firm acidity. Throughout the long smooth finish, notes of wet stone, dried flowers and classic Rutherford dust make this wine the perfect candidate to age gracefully over time. 86% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Petit Verdot, 5% Malbec.

Robert Parker 93: The 2012 Cabernet Sauvignon Rutherford shows a black cherry and kirsch-like component often seen in top Rutherford Cabernets, with an almost Margaux-like delicacy and a dense ruby/purple color. It has a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel, sweet tannins, beautiful purity and texture and incremental richness that builds gently and graciously. This is a gorgeous 2012 to drink over the next 10-15 years.