2005 Late Harvest Sauvignon Blanc
Varietal Composition:
100% Sauvignon Blanc, Edna Ranch Vineyard
Appellation: Edna Valley
Production: 578 cases of 375ml
Vineyard Information
The business of making ‘Late Harvest’ wines is akin to a high-wire act. Botrytis cinerea, the ‘Noble Rot’ requires free moisture initially in the form of dew or rain in order to spread onto the surface of grapes. Once established, it requires dry, warm conditions for ideal growth. Too much heat and the entire crop can raisin in an afternoon. Too cool or wet, and spoilage molds and bacteria infest the berries, turning them into a vinegary mush. When conditions hold just right, as they did for us in 2005, the Botrytis metabolizes water and nutrients from within the already ripe berries, shrinking them and concentrating the acidity & sugars to almost double the normal levels. Our harvest crew made several passes through the vines in order to pick each cluster as it reached its individual peak of fuzzy, purplish ripeness.
Winemaking & Cellar Information
The hand-picked clusters were loaded into the Europress immediately upon delivery, and pressed under low pressure, allowing the juice to drip syrup-like into the collection pan. After settling for two days in a cold tank, yeast was introduced, starting a slow ferment that dragged on for nearly two months, finishing in once-used French oak barrels. As the ferment progressed, the combination of high sugar and climbing alcohol level overcame the yeast’s ability to survive, stalling the ferment at 13.2% alcohol and 14% residual sugar, resulting in an incredibly delicious, age-worthy dessert wine.
Analytical Information
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugars: 144g/L
T.A.: 7.58 g/L
pH: 3.51
Brix at Harvest: 36-39 degrees
Tasting Notes
Pure light white gold in color, with aromas of green fig, lemongrass, apricot jam, and bitter orange. The mouth is sumptuous and perfumed – truly rich, resonant and delicious on the palate. This wine will be very long-lived in the bottle, developing new layers of complexity and interest as reward for proper cellar aging.
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