Winemaker Notes:
This wine provides a delightful blend of both fresh red
fruit and dried dark fruits with a mix of green and black olives. A very juicy wine with layers of cocoa and
cream. The fruit is complemented with a graphite minerality from the French oak
along with a classic earthy character. A well-rounded wine with exquisite
tannins that are well balanced. The oak
is strong but does not overpower the other elements, yet rather enhances them. The finish is strong and elegant and lasts
quite a while. This wine will age
extremely well with untapped potential.
It drinks well now but I would recommend a decanter. I have been waiting for this wine to be In
bottle since the harvest of 2017. Enjoy!
Vintage:
A mild winter and a warmer Spring were the perfect
conditions for an early bud break. The
Summer months were a bit warmer, approximately 5 degrees on average, and not as
much rain also helped to create a great vintage with an abundance of
grapes. The humidity seemed to be a bit
less as well helping to create very good growing conditions. In the Fall we did not see too much rain and
the weather was very mild to warm.
Overall 2017 was the best vintage I have experienced in Virginia
Blend
86% cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Tannat
Harvest
The Crozet cabernet sauvignon was harvested on 25 September
2019 at 23.3 brix, 3.55pH and 6.51g/L TA.
The Bent Mtn. cabernet sauvignon was harvested on 5 October 2019 at 22.7
brix, 3.46pH and 10.2g/L TA. The Crozet Tannat
was harvested on 21 September at 23.8 brix, 3.29pH and 8.64g/L TA.
Vineyard Source:
74% Crozet, Virginia
26% Bent Mtn., Virginia
Fermentation
The Crozet cabernet sauvignon was cold soaked for 9 days
then fermented in stainless steel for 7 days with D254 Yeast. The Bent Mtn cabernet sauvignon was cold soaked
for 5 days then fermented in ½ ton macro bins for 5 days with ICV-GRE
Yeast. The Crozet Tannat was fermented for
5 days in stainless steel with D254 Yeast.
Aging
71% New French oak, 15% New Hungarian oak and 14% 2-year French
oak
Bottling Date
06 March 2019
Release Date
May 2019
Technical Information
12.7% Alc.
3.68 pH
6.868g/L TA
0.4 RS
