“We couldn’t have made these wines 20 years ago. No one could have,” says Stratus founding winemaker J-L Groux. “This quality level was unimaginable 20 years ago.” “These wines” he refers to are a new echelon at Stratus and bear The Stratus White Label.
The Stratus White Label wines are characterized by intensity, complexity and longevity. They reflect both the winemakers’ combined 60 years of experience and their dedication to discovery. “Winemaking simply enhances what nature provides,” says Stoyka, “and by applying our observations and experience, we can optimize nature’s expressiveness by choosing the best parcel/vintage convergence. As such, The White Label wines are theoretically designated at harvest.”
Youthful, intense blue purple hue. Expressive nose with black niçoise olive, hoisin, plum paste, cassis, black cherry, lilac, tarragon, and prune. Rich and smooth, mouth-filling, but never heavy or boozy on the palate due to a core of sour red fruit acid. Tannins are velvety and layered creating a robust structure without any hardness or youthful green notes. A hint of wood spice and oak char add depth.
Two years in French oak.
