The name Belle Cousine is a reference to Pamela Fairbanks de Villaine, Larry Hyde’s lovely cousin who is the wife of Aubert de Villaine of Burgundy. It is Pamela who brings these visionary viticultural families from Burgundy and the Carneros region of Napa Valley together to make wines that express the character of place, with that rare minerality so dear to the Burgundian palate.

The 2008 growing season was marked by extremes. We experienced the coldest spring since 1970, with 27 days of frost protection in April. Fortunately, Hyde Vineyard’s proximity to the San Pablo Bay diminished the impact of cold weather on the vineyard fruit. This vintage was also the second year of a drought that led to smaller clusters and berries, bringing an intense concentration.

The nose offers intense and complex aromas of spice, black cherry, red fruits, sweet vanilla, as well as an earth-driven character. Soft mineral tannins accompany the black cherry core through the mid-palate onto a long, clean finish. Ultimately, persistent length accompanied by purity and elegance defines the 2008 HdV Belle Cousine. It should continue to improve for another 15 years.