Vineyard
Properties: Wurtele Vineyard, Bale's Creek Estate
Appellation: Spring Mountain District
Clonal Selections: clone 7 cabernet sauvignon, clone 214 cabernet franc
Growing Season
Summary: The 2015 vintage began in late winter due to unseasonably warm temperatures leading to an early bud break, and thus an elongated growing season. Overall yields were lighter than average with smaller cluster and berry size as a result of cooler temperatures during bloom and the third consecutive year of drought. The resultant wines show increased concentration of flavors with wonderful balance and round textures.
Harvest Date: 9/19-10/03
Winemaking
Hand-harvested, picked at night
Gently de-stemmed and whole berries transferred to stainless steel
Cold soaked for 48 hours
Inoculated with D254 yeast and fermented for 21 days on the skins
Free run juice drained from tank, settled for 24 hours then racked to barrel
Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 66% new
Coopers: Nadalie, Orion and Ermitage
Bottled July 2017
Compositon: 42% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 23% Cabernet Franc