Nose
The 2007 offering opens with aromas of white peach,
honeysuckle and shortbread.
Palate
The bold, yeasty palate is brimming with assertive flavors of
fresh bosc pear, nectarine and lemon meringue that wrap themselves around a steely
backbone. A sublime interplay of fruit and well‐integrated French oak leads to a finish
offering great length, along with notes of nutmeg, cedar and anise.
Growing Conditions
The 2007 growing season was preceded by a mild, dry winter. Bud break
came early and set a crop of small clusters and highly concentrated berries. Summer
brought ideal weather with warm, even temperatures through veraison. Several heat spikes
in August anticipated an early start to crush, but temperatures cooled in early September,
allowing ample time for phenolics as well as sugars to reach optimum levels. The result was
a slow, steady harvest of exceptional quality, with wines showing great intensity and
structure.
Clonal Selections: Old Wente, Ritchie selection
Harvest
Hand‐harvested grapes
Bottling
Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2009.
Winemaking
Whole cluster, direct to press, cold
Barrel‐fermented with indigenous yeasts; 5 months to completion
Concurrent spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aging
Aged 15 months in French oak barrels; 70% new; Aged sur lies, biweekly bâtonnage.