TASTING NOTES

A generous wine. Blended with the intention of approachability, balance and power, with vibrant notes of red cherry, plum skins, and subtle hints of menthol, layered with a balance of baking spices like nutmeg and cinnamon. Pair with braised short ribs.

TERROIR

The Cabernet Franc grown at the Catoctin Breeze estate. Teroldego, Petit Verdot and Merlot were grown at Six Wicket Vineyard, located in Meyersville, MD, with the Cabernet Sauvignon grown at the Cool Ridge Vineyard in Hagerstown, MD. Each grape brings with it the nature of its terroir, contributing to the wine's character.

VINTAGE

In general, it was a very good vintage, defined by a September that was virtually rain free which allowed for optimal ripeness.

WINEMAKING

Inspired by the three tier Bordeaux model, Nocturne is our second wine, and the 2022 vintage is composed of 28% Cabernet Franc, 28% Teroldego, 17% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Petit Verdot, and 11% Merlot, creating a harmonious balance of varietals and terroirs. Fermented in 1-ton bins. Aged in 39% new French oak barrels for 16 months.

TASTING NOTES

The nose exhibits refined notes of cinnamon, coconut, and cigar box. The palate pleasantly surprises you with more fruit than you would expect; like candied cherries, raspberries, freesia, figs, butterscotch, and wild strawberries. Some savory elements come into play like graphite and white pepper, adding a level of complexity to this playful wine. The beautiful expression of Six Wicket’s terroir shines. Pair with prime rib with rosemary, roasted duck, venison, or any red meat with some spices. Unfined and unfiltered.

TERROIR

The Cabernet Franc in this blend was grown in the Middletown Valley in Myersville, MD at Six Wicket Vineyard at 975 feet in elevation on weathered greenstone soils. The Cabernet Sauvignon was grown at Cool Ridge Vineyard at Cool Ridge Vineyard in Hagerstown, MD on weathered limestone soils.

VINTAGE

The 2020 growing season greeted us with a few frost scares, including one on Mother’s Day. June was relatively dry and sunny, allowing for ideal pollination which resulting in uniform clusters and fruit set. So far so good. Then comes July and August which was full of rain, resulting in excess vigor, delaying veraison (i.e., the onset of ripening). This resulted in a later season, which was further disturbed by Hurricane Delta, which forced untimely picking decisions. Overall, a difficult growing season, but one that tells a story. The wines from this vintage are softer and lighter than average, but still present a unique elegance that we embrace.

WINEMAKING

93% Cabernet Franc, 7% Cabernet Sauvignon. Fermented in 60 gallon tanks. Aged in 70% brand new American oak barrels for 20 months. Bottle in May 2022.

TASTING NOTES

Medium bodied. Broad and voluminous with soft tannins and juicy acidity. Deep purple in color, with aromas of blackberry, savory black olives, and a touch of smoked barbecue. The palate is defined by its minerality and juicy acidity, accompanied by flavors of pomegranate, sage, and thyme. The deep color suggests power, however this is a wine that is all about grace. Approachable and enjoyable in its youth, however, it is capable of developing further with 2-3 years of bottle maturation. Well suited for pairing with charcuterie, rustic breads, and appetizers, this 2023 Teroldego is a versatile addition to your table.

TERROIR

Teroldego, originating from Northern Italy in the Südtirol and Trentino-Alto Adige regions, has found a home in Frederick County, Maryland. Grown in the Middletown Valley in Myersville, Maryland, at Six Wicket Vineyards at 975 feet in elevation on weathered greenstone soils.

 
VINTAGE

A very good year. Average temperatures. Defined by a September with virtually no rain. Teroldego was able to ripen beautifully and was picked on October 12th. This later pick date allowed for optimal phenolic ripeness which is proven by the delicate tannins and balanced acidity.

WINEMAKING

100% Teroldego. Nine months in 37% new French Oak.

AVAILABLE JULY 31, 2025


IDEA

This is our beloved “third blend”. This means that after Concerto and Nocturne are assembled, the leftovers go to Adagio. The purpose of Adagio is to offer us a pleasant and fruit driven wine, with accessibility in mind. Adagio is unique in that offers us the “first glance” of the vintage itself, giving us a whisper of what to expect with Concerto and Nocturne. It’s a wine that is built to be drank right now while we wait for his bigger brothers to enter their drinking windows. Pop the corks!

TASTING NOTES

A lush profile of dark fruit and floral aromatics. Blackberry, plum, and violet notes unfold over a plush, medium-bodied palate, balanced by juicy acidity and a softer tannic structure. A “laid back” wine you grab when you order pizza for delivery, or need a versatile red to go with a wide variety of appetizers at large gatherings with friends and family.

TERROIR

A blend composed from three different vineyards all located along the Catoctin Ridge. The wine was grown in both limestone and slate based soils, with elevations ranging from 500-1000 feet above sea level.

VINTAGE

An excellent year for red wines, mainly due to the prolonged drought that allowed the berry flavors to become extremely concentrated. The harvest period was defined by a September with virtually no rain. This allowed us to dictate the pick dates, as opposed to mother nature making the decisions for us.

WINEMAKING

Fermented in small one ton vats, with parcel-by-parcel vinification. Extraction was gentle, with one pump-over during the first few days of fermentation, followed by daily punch-downs. Matured in 10% new French oak for 10 months, with a significant percentage of pressed wine. This shorter maturation period allows us to preserve the vibrancy of the fruit, which is the wine’s main attribute. Bottled unfiltered.

TASTING NOTES

A wine of structure, finesse, and balance. Blended with structure and complexity in mind, the Cabernet Franc provides the wine with elegance and silky tannins, along with savory aromas of graphite, cassis and dried roses. Merlot brings forth energy, youthfulness, and freshness. While Petit Verdot graces the wine with a touch more body, power, and density. The subtle notes of butterscotch indicate well integrated oak. Unfined and unfiltered.

TERROIR

The Cabernet Franc used in this blend (74%) is estate grown on our steep and highly exposed amphitheater of a hillside. Prevailing winds from the Catoctin Mountains together with our mosaic of slate and limestone based soils make for a unique terroir. The soils at Catoctin Breeze are excessively drained, shallow, and very rocky; composed of primarily weathered phyllite and schist, but also include pockets of gravel, sand, and clay. The Merlot and Petit Verdot were grown at Six Wicket Vineyards in the beautiful Middletown Valley at nearly 1000 feet in elevation. The higher elevation together with more silt/loam based soils produce more electric wines with vibrant acidity and liveliness.

VINTAGE

The 2021 growing season started beautifully with lower- than-average rainfall, which put some desired stress on the vines. We approached veraison (early August) cautiously optimistic as the vines began putting all their energy into ripening fruit. Dry conditions enhance this; by signaling the vine to shut down its vegetative (leaf) growth and focus on putting their energy into the fruit. Late August and early September brought us some untimely rainfall. However, with the warmer season overall, fruit ripened earlier than usual, allow us to dodge some incoming storms. Ideal ripeness was ultimately achieved, resulting in a vintage full of unique personality, and one we are very proud of.

WINEMAKING

A blend of estate grown Cabernet Franc (74%), with Merlot (14%) and Petit Verdot (12%) grown at Six Wicket Vineyards 12 miles west of Catoctin Breeze. Fermented in one ton open top bins and then transferred to 75% new French and American oak where it aged for 20 months. Unfiltered.

TASTING NOTES

Well structured and age-worthy, with a long, refined finish. Accompanied with a tension that showcases elegance and longevity, you’ll find aromatic notes of red fruit, graphite, and rose petal with raspberry leaf, sage, black pepper, and baked clay on the palate. Rustic grilled meats are a natural match for this Cabernet Franc driven blend.

TERROIR

The Cabernet Franc was grown at the Catoctin Breeze estate, with the Cabernet Sauvignon grown at Cool Ridge Vineyards (Hagerstown, MD) and the Petit Verdot from Six Wicket Vineyards (Myersville, MD). Each grape expresses its terroir in very different ways, contributing to the wine's character, resulting in a seamless integration of all the flavor profiles.

VINTAGE

A very good year. Dry. Average temps. Defined by a September with virtually no rain – which allowed for optimal ripeness particularly for our estate Cabernet Franc.

WINEMAKING

The 2022 vintage of Concerto, our flagship wine, is a Bordeaux blend composed of 75% Cabernet Franc, 23% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 2% Petit Verdot. Aged for 16 months in 38% new French oak. Concerto embodies our dedication to growing refined, restrained, and terroir expressive wines.

TASTING NOTES

Medium ruby in color with expressive notes of plum, wild strawberry, and pomegranate on the nose. Juicy acidity with plush tannins. The palate showcases notes of black cherry, vanilla, graphite, and baking spices. The wine is comprised of 86% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 7% Teroldego. The wine was aged in 70% brand new French and American oak barrels, and 30% neutral oak for 10 months. Pair with summertime barbecue chicken and roasted vegetables.

TERROIR

Six Wicket Vineyards is located in Myersville, MD, and sits in the beautiful Middletown Valley at 975 feet. The site here has well drained residual soil that derives from weathered Catoctin greenstone. These more silt/loam-based soils produce more electric wines with vibrant acidity and liveliness.

VINTAGE

The 2021 growing season started beautifully with lower than average rainfall, which put some desired stress on the vines. We approached veraison (early August) cautiously optimistic as the vines began putting all of their energy into ripening fruit. Dry conditions enhance this; by signaling the vine to shut down its vegetative (leaf) growth and focus on putting their energy into the fruit. Late August and early September brought us some untimely rainfall. However, with the warmer season overall, fruit ripened earlier than usual, allow us to dodge some incoming storms. Ideal ripeness was ultimately achieved, resulting in a vintage full of unique personality, and one we are very proud of.

WINEMAKING

After the fruit was picked, it was kept in a cold room overnight, then destemmed and put into one ton open top tanks for fermentation. After fermentation, the wine was aged in 70% brand new French and American oak barrels, and 30% neutral oak for 10 months. Bottled in August 2022. Unfined and unfiltered.

TASTING NOTES

Made from the premium quality light press juice of estate grown Chardonnay, this wine is the purest expression of Catoctin Breeze. Pronounced with a mouth filling roundness, this wine features notes of yellow apple, nutmeg, honeysuckle & Asian pear. The wine carries into subtle notes of vanilla and brioche. Ripe & soft. Pair with cream-based sauce dishes such as shrimp scampi and white pizzas.

TERROIR

Estate grown on our steep hillside on a southeastern aspect. Our Estate vineyard has two distinct soil types: The top half of the hill is moderately deep and excessively drained, composed of residual soils weathered from micaceous crystalline rocks, such as phyllite and schist. These rocky soils create wines with structure, muscle, and ripeness. The bottom half of the hill has limestone based soils that are very deep, moderately well drained, primarily composed of weathered gravel and channery clay loam. These heavier soils produce electric, fresh, and herbaceous wines. This Chardonnay is grown in equal parts of each soil type.

VINTAGE

Late winter, cool and dry spring with explosive flowering season. Summer rains break for ideal ripening conditions allowing for optimal harvest times. One of the best vintages we’ve had in a 10 year period.

WINEMAKING

This Chardonnay was aged on the lees and in neutral French oak for eleven months. 100% Estate Grown.

TASTING NOTES

Dark ruby in color, with a noticeable viscosity. The nose welcomes you with rich notes of dark chocolate, ripe black berries, and almonds. The palate explodes with luscious flavors of chocolate covered figs, nutmeg, and walnut. The silky texture enhances the fruity and nutty finish, which lasts for minutes! Enjoy this fortified dessert wine with blue cheese or chocolate cake with raspberries. Unfined and unfiltered.

WINEMAKING

After the wine finished fermentation, it was fortified with CBV grape spirits distilled by McClintock Distillery in Frederick, MD. Shortly after, we added a sweetening component to achieve 10% residual sugar. The wines have been ageing in barrel, oxidatively by design, since November of 2020 under the “solera” system. The general idea of this system is bottling small portions of wine, and then top off with new wine called the “sobretabla”. In theory, the solera bottled 100 years from now will still have remnants of wine from today. Hence to the “Vitalício” name, which means “lifelong” in Portuguese.