Winemaker Notes:
An intensely aromatic wine with big jammy upfront characters
with blackberry, cherry and dried figs dominating the show. These fruits are followed with some nice
earthy characters and touches of coffee, molasses, and tobacco. Behind the earthy notes is a rich cocoa element
that encases the other layers. On the palate
the wine is bright and clean with a long finish with a hint of jolly
rancher. The tannins are soft and
balance well with the mouthfeel. Overall
a big wine with a big personality.
Vintage:
Starting with a mild winter we rolled into an early spring. In late March we started seeing temps in the
70’s with just a few cooler days to follow.
The spring conditions led to excellent fruit set and ultimately a
bountiful crop. The summer, for Virginia,
was very mild with only a few days of hot humid conditions. The Autumn was particularly dry with warm
days and cool nights. From mid-September to early October, we experienced very
little rain which is invaluable for maturing grapes. I believe the 2019 vintage to be the best I
have experienced in Virginia for my tenure here.
Blend:
100% Norton
Harvest:
The Norton was harvested on 18 October 2019 at 24.0 brix, 3.63
pH and 5.55g/L TA.
Vineyard Source:
Chrysalis Vineyard, Middleburg, VA
Fermentation:
The Norton fermented for 7 days in stainless steel with MT48
Yeast.
Aging:
15 Months in neutral French Oak barrels
Bottling Date:
06 January 2020 – 284 cases
Release Date:
21 January 2021
Technical
Information:
12.4% Alc.
3.92 Ph
9.08g/L TA
0.035% RS dry
