Vintage Summary

The 2019 growing season was relatively mild for Central California standards, with average winter rainfall in the Santa Cruz Mountains. Late spring rains helped the vines get a huge boost right before flowering and fruit set. Early summer was very warm which resulted in great fruit set, followed by a very mild later summer, with a very long ripening season. The very last fruit from this legendary, dry-farmed mountain site was harvested on October 15th, 2019.

Winemaking

The grapes were picked by hand. At the winery the grapes were given 4 hours of whole cluster maceration to extract tannins, aroma, and flavor compounds in the skins, followed by pressing the grapes.  No sulfur was added to allow the juice to oxidize slightly.  After a 36 hour cold settle in tank, the clean juice was racked off the solids to barrel for spontaneous fermentation and a 8 month elevage. Racked off fine lees a month prior to bottling. Unfined and unfiltered.  Bottled July 5th, 2020. 21 cases produced.

Wine Stats

Brix at harvest: 21.3

Titratable Acidity: 6.0 g/L

pH: 3.39

Residual Sugar: 0.1 g/L

Alcohol: 13.1%