Replenishing winter rains ushered an exceptional start to the 2018 growing season, leading to a lengthy budbreak and flowering,
with nearly perfect fruit-set throughout a cool spring. Warm weather and bright sunshine settled in by June, but the nights remained very cool, and the season progressed without any major heat spikes. These ideal conditions continued well into the fall, leading to even ripening of tannins, sugar levels, and acidity. The 2018 Helena Dakota is characteristically fragrant, opulent, and complex, bursting with fresh blueberry and black currant, Crème de Violette, and subtle fresh bay leaf aromatics. The palate is luxurious and rich, perfectly balancing this wine’s firm structure, and driving to a long finish of dark baking chocolate and luscious dark fruit.
