Tierra Roja Vineyard is one of the best grower vineyards in the eastern bench of Oakville. If you drive Oakville Cross Road to Silverado Trail, directly in front of you is this premier 4-acre vineyard. It’s filled with big rocks and the soil is very red, thus its name. As vintner Tor Kenward explains, “You might expect the wines to be massive, but they are perfumed, dark and complex, in the style of Screaming Eagle. Linda Neal has been tending this jewel of a vineyard since 1987. Today Neal sells her fruit to no other winery but ours. It was a long wait until we finally released our first TOR Tierra Roja Cabernet in 2010.” The 2019 shows a very “floral side to the aromatics with roses/rosemary/lavendar and sage. The palate is firm but with sweet tannins and a bit of wet earth, cloves, and cinnamon stick. Tierra Roja tends to be fairly forward in its youth but always surprises with just how long and well it can go in the cellar, and I think this year is no exception.” -Jeff Ames, winemaker.