Growing Conditions
A warm and dry harvest with above average sun, a turn in the weather from cool and rainy during the summer, this late sunny pattern allowed for a wonderful harvest stretching well into November! Long hang time for developing flavors in the berries was a given, but due to the cooler than average growing season this could be accomplished without sacrificing freshness.
Harvest
2017 was the first vintage since 2009 to be notably below average in temperature during the majority of the growing season. The cooperation of the sun and heat for weeks - after a Labor Day Weekend marked by sweater-weather - ripeness was no longer an issue.
Winemaking
Grapes crushed and destemmed with moderate SO2 upon receival, then sent to cold soak on skins for 24 hrs before being pressed. Juice was pressed off to a single tank and then cold settled for 72 hours before racking. Juice bottoms after racking were filtered with diatomaceous earth and returned. After spontaneous fermentation, the wine was aged on lees in stainless steel for 8 months prior to racking, filtering, and bottling.