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BLEND
& GRAPE SOURCES: 95% estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc from Spring Valley vineyards on the home ranch outside of St. Helena, 5% Spring Valley Semillon. |
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WINEMAKING
DATA: Grapes were harvested at an average 23.2° Brix, with 20% of the blend fermented in new French oak barrels and given three months' lees contact. The remaining 80% was fermented in stainless steel tanks and held four months in German oak ovals. Both lots were then blended and bottled in March, 2002. Harvest Dates: Aug. 24 - Sept. 4, 2001. |
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The
roller-coaster year of 2001 began with a warm spring and early budbreak, hot
temperatures in June, a cooling trend throughout the summer, then a heat spell
of 100 degree days the first week of October. Nevertheless, the vintage is perceived as similar to 1994, which was considered among the best of a string of great vintages in the 90's which produced big, flavorful, concentrated wines. Early-ripening Sauvignon Blanc responded well to the warm spring and moderate summer temperatures, and achieved high sugar and acid levels well before the heat spell later in the season. The result is a wine with clean, crisp, citrus-like flavors and aromas, with a subtle grassy component that is typical of this versatile white varietal. |
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