SF Chronicle GOLD medal winner 2011
100 cases(unfortunately sold out-2008 is lovely too and available)
This is a small lot wine that we picked in late October in what was for once a fairly normal year. The fruit was in great shape with some dimpling indicating full ripeness. We hand picked the rows we had selected at dawn, with, a faint new moon waxing in the east. The mostly clone 337 fruit was cool and the juice in the tank was 25+ brix. The other fruit chemistry was also well balanced with a 3.78 pH and 0.61 TA. We destemmed and cold soaked for 48 hours before fermenting in a small open top fermentor. The punchdown regime was twice daily. Claude inoculated with D-254 yeast. Our barrel blend was 10% new Hungarian Trust40% 2nd use American and 40% 2nd use French so as not to overwhelm the fruit. The wine was in barrel 30 months.
We find that the wine is opulent in red and black fruits with a full body for sipping alone or supping with meals. The finish lingers nicely without being overwhelmed in tannins. We feel this is a very nice, elegant, smooth well balanced wine. As it ages, it has developed some nice mocha and cedar notes. We have had wonderful feedback from friends, consumers, trade and my associates in the industry.
Buon Giorno Mike Tatedog@ pacbell.net