Flavors of apricot and orange marmalade are promised by the aroma of the 2017 Dolce and fully realized on the palate. The intense and bright fruitfulness of this vintage also has more subtle notes of butterscotch and baking spices. These lively flavors are carried by Dolce’s signature mouth-filling and oily texture, leaving the palate with a watering and satisfying finish!

Dolce’s 20-acre vineyards are located in Coombsville, east of the city of Napa, and are situated at the base of the Vaca Mountains, which define the eastern border of the valley. The volcanic soil is loose and well drained, and the west-facing vineyard is protected from the prevailing winds so that the damp, morning fog of autumn—a very important factor in the development of Botrytis cinerea—hangs longer amongst the vines, often until midday. A combination of high humidity followed by drying conditions encourages, but does not guarantee, the growth of Botrytis. As the mold develops, its coverage is seemingly random with individual berries succumbing to Botrytis at different rates, if at all.