Nine Suns Sunbird 2018

The 22-acre Houyi Vineyard has everything that makes Pritchard Hill one of the top grape-growing sites in California: deep red iron-rich soils, hunks of volcanic rock, and a 1,400-foot perch above the fog line that blesses it with abundant sunshine. In addition to Cabernet Sauvignon, the property has tiny blocks of Grenache and Syrah that thrive in the high-elevation sunshine.

In 2018, winemaker Philippe Melka and Nine Suns Director of Winemaking Lloyd Matthews blended them with Cabernet Sauvignon (41%), Petit Verdot, and Cabernet Franc to produce a full snapshot of this one-of-a-kind plot. Sunbird bursts with the presence Pritchard Hill is famous for — a deep purple-ruby colour, a nose of warm plums and blackberry accented by mocha and vanilla, and a palate of ripe black cherries, toast, and espresso, swaddled in robust, ripe tannins that make for a smooth texture with intensity and beautiful balance.

Vineyard: Houyi, Pritchard Hill | Blend: 41% Cabernet Sauvignon, Grenache, Syrah, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc | Elevation: 1,400 ft