Tech Notes
Yield: 2 tons per acre
Harvest: October 1st – 21st
Numbers @ Harvest: 23.1° Brix, 3.43 pH, 7.8 grams acidity
Barrel Regimen: French Oak–2 to 5 years old, 100% Barrel Fermented; 100% Malolactic; 100% sur-lie
Bottling: June 2020
Alcohol: 14%
Tasting Notes
Release Date: Spring 2022
2019 marks our 34th harvest from this special vineyard. Once again, the yields were meager, mainly due to age. The owner Jean Pierre Wolff, is thankfully a big proponent of our love for Old Vines.
People often wonder why winemakers obsess about Old Vines, and it is because of the ratio of fruit to root mass. In young vines, the ratio is a lot of fruit and a small root structure; in old vines, it is reversed. The result is a tremendous increase in complexity and nuance in the wines. The only downside is the very small yields.
2019 was a typical October harvest in the Edna Valley. The weather conditions in this oceanside valley slow the ripening to a crawl and give ample hang time for the grapes. In tasting this vintage, what is noteworthy is the intriguing play of rose petal, honeysuckle, mint and toasty yeast in the aroma. On the palate, the flavors are transparent, echoing the nose and the finish is satisfying and long.
Completely barrel fermented and aged on the lees for nine months in our mountain cave, this vintage is drinking well now, and it will remain so for another four to five years.