Byington "Pine Mountain" Tin Cross Vineyard Red Blend 2014
(Alexander Valley, California)

About the Winery:                                                                                                         

Bill Byington found Byington Steel Treating in 1950, now the largest business of its kind in northern California. In 1958, Bill and his wife Mary purchased 95 acres in the Santa Cruz Mountains with the intent of using it as a family retreat. In the early 1970s, a winemaker approached the family, wanting to lease part of their land for vineyards. Bill had been a wine collector and this implanted the seed for him to pursue viticulture. He planted 9 acres of Pinot Noir and Byington Vineyard & Winery was established with its inaugural release in 1987.

In 2013, Los Altos Vineyards bought Byington and updated the grounds and facilities. Beside estate grown Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Byington sourced other grape varieties from California winegrowing regions. In 2014, Los Altos Vineyards bought a 240-acre ranch in Alexander Valley in the Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA. The ranch has 36 planted acres of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, Petit Verdot and Chardonnay.

The stately winery is an ideal site for corporate and private events. The stunning 95-acre property has a 18,000-square-foot villa that houses winemaking facilities, tasting room, event facilities, and a man-made wine cave sits 40 feet beneath the Byington Estate Vineyard and is perfect for dinner parties.

For over three decades, family-owned Byington has specialized in crafting classic Bordeaux and Burgundy varietal wines using prime fruit from two distinct high-elevation Northern Californian appellations situated at 2000ft above sea level:                           Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
All the wines are made using sustainably farmed estate-grown grapes. As dedicated stewards of the land, Byington is focused on growing and producing premium wines using ecologically conscious farming methods. Over three-quarters of our 350 acres are left wild to protect and preserve the biodiversity of the native habitat that surrounds our vineyards.                                                                                                                               
Vineyard:
Tin Cross Vineyard, which was first planted to vine in 1855. It is located in the Pine
Mountain-Cloverdale Peak AVA in northern Sonoma and is home to 30 acres of precious old vine Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot.                                                                                                                                    
Grape Varietals:
 75% Merlot                                                                                                                     25% Cabernet Franc                                                                                                            AVA:                                                                                                                                       Pine Mountain-Cloverdale Peak

Tasting Notes:                                                                                                            Minty herbs spring from the glass, followed by earthy red and black berries. The fruit carries onto the palate, and is complemented by flavors of wet stone and layers of gentle velvety tannin, with traces of leather on the finish.

Food Pairings:                                                                                                           Marbled red meats and rich cheeses.