Fewer than 125 cases produced, this meticulously crafted wine reflects an uncompromising pursuit of quality. Each barrel from each lot is tasted blind—multiple times—before being selected for inclusion in the final assemblage. The 2021 blend is composed of 85% Cabernet Sauvignon (Home Ranch Vineyard), 12% Merlot (Zayante Vineyard), and 3% Cabernet Franc (Ghielmetti Vineyard), all aged for 22 months in 100% French oak, 50% of which was new. The Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 7 component was fermented in stainless steel, while the Merlot and Cabernet Franc underwent fermentation in 1.7-ton open-top fermenters—each vinified separately to preserve character and precision. Long considered one of Livermore Valley’s benchmark reds, Lineage continues to deliver on its reputation. The 2021 vintage offers a complex and layered nose of dried herbs, graphite, dark minerality, black licorice, and brooding black cherry and cassis. On the palate, deep, silky blackcurrant fruit is laced with cocoa and savory undertones, supported by a firm core of acidity and polished tannins. This is a wine of tension, balance, and elegance—with the structural integrity to age for decades. A powerful expression of place and a bold statement on what Livermore Valley is capable of at the highest level. -JR