Composed of 50% Estate grown Merlot, 30% Temecula Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, and 20% Temecula Valley Cabernet Franc, this classic red blend was named after Leon Borel. The increase of morning fog throughout the summer kept the vines a couple of weeks behind normal, but the late summer heat rewarded us with excellent tannin development. Harvest commenced in late September – still significantly earlier than the vast majority of the rest of the valley.

The Luiseño Estate Vineyard, as always, was hand-picked and carefully sorted in the cooler evening hours to encourage the fruit to stay intact through harvest. The skins remained in contact with the skins for an average of 17 days to extract optimum color, tannin, and structure. This classic style blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Cabernet Franc features upfront flavors of ripe cherries, blackberries, and chocolate. Extensive barrel aging resulted in multiple layers of oak on the palate, soft tannins, and a long, supple finish.