2020 Field Blend #1
Merlot
/ Cabernet Sauvignon
Monticello
Winemaker Notes:
Visually the wine is
very appealing with a wonderful dark garnet hue. Aromatically the wine is bursting with bright
candied raspberries, strawberries, and dark cherries. Additional there is a nostalgic touch of
candied caramel apple. Next to the fruit
components is a pleasant vanilla and cola nuance which nestles up nicely with
the soft earthy notes. The oak is soft
and well balanced with the fruit and mellow tannins. A very approachable wine that will continue
to evolve nicely.
Vintage:
This was a tough year on many counts. The winter started mild and was somewhat
uneventful with moderate temperatures. Then
in April and May Virginia was hit with some severe frosts devastating some growers. We then had a very wet start to the summer
which proceeded to dry up with some extreme heat days. The rains then remerged in September making
for difficult conditions with the grapes ripening. The rains did not completely dissipate for the
remainder of harvest and did allow for some nice days to work.
Blend
57% Merlot, 43% Cabernet Sauvignon
Harvest
The Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested on 24th
September 2020. The Merlot was 21.7
brix, 3.84 pH and .576g/L TA. The Cabernet
Sauvignon was 20.2 brix, 3.83 pH and .684g/L TA
Vineyard Source:
Mt. Juliet
Vineyards, Crozet, VA.
Fermentation
Both grapes fermented for 7 days in stainless steel with D254
Yeast.
Aging
12 months in 78% French Oak Barrels and 22% Hungarian Oak Barrels
Bottling Date
17 January 2022
Release Date
February 2021
Technical
Information
12.0% Alc
3.55 pH
.656 g/L TA
0.4% RS (dry)
