This vintage marks the beginning of Daniel Wampfler and his wife, Amy Alvarez-Wampfler, as the winemakers at Abeja for the Harrisons, and this entire bottling is pulled from Abeja’s prized Heather Hill Vineyard just north of the acclaimed SeVein project. The program of French oak, 40% new and the rest listed as “experienced,” leads to aromas of cocoa powdered Chukar Cherry, blue fruit, red bell pepper, sage and graphite. The suave structure is highlighted by fine-grained tannins that allow for enjoyment of ripe blue fruit, led by Marionberry and capped by a cellar-worthy Montmorency cherry acidity. Each year, Heather Hill begins as a club offering, but a few cases make their way to respected merchants.
