2022 Praefectus

60% Cabernet Franc, 25% Cabernet Sauvignon, 15% merlot

Philosophy
Old Mission Peninsula rides the climactic edge of where successful vinifera ripening can occur, and our Praefectus is the result of strategic blending methods undertaken to create a full bodied red here. A title of authority in the ancient Roman Empire, Praefectus is a true leader among Michigan red wines, showcasing the best of our Cabernet grapes.

Flavor Notes
A Michigan take on a Bordeaux blend, Praefectus balances cool climate acid, berry notes, and deeper oak. The star of the show, we encourage our Cabernet Franc to express juicy raspberry flavor through careful vineyard work and canopy management. Cabernet Sauvignon from our Nella Serra hoop houses adds an oomph of complex silty tannins, while Merlot’s fruit forward flavor rounds out the blend.

Vinification
The Cabernet Franc was harvested October 22nd and destemmed whole-berry into a red wine fermenter. Undergoing partial carbonic maceration to highlight fruit aromas, the wine fermented for three weeks before pressing into new lightly toasted hogshead oak barrels. The Cabernet Sauvignon was harvested on October 24th from the Irish vineyard nella serra hoop houses before being pressed and fermented in open top bins. After daily hand punch downs for three weeks, it was pressed November 14th into two year old oak barriques. The Merlot was harvested from Grishaw on November 9th, and after fermenting in a red wine tank was pressed December 7th into neutral oak demi-muids. The wine was blended and bottled on September 20th, 2023 after ten months of aging

Pairing 
Praefectus is a great choice for grilled fatty steaks or roasted lamb. For dessert, try pairing with bitter dark chocolates to highlight the red fruit in the wine.

Cellaring
This wine was designed with structure to age through 2033 and, potentially, beyond.