Estate Virtu/Elu Wines Flashcards
2013 Estate Virtu/Dollarhide Estate Vineyard, Napa Valley
Blend-55% Semillon/45% Sauvignon Blanc
Fresh Cut Citrus Aromas of Pink Grapefruit/Lemon Rind/Pear
Lemongrass & Smoky Oak
11%ML with 64% blend aged in 100% French Oak (41%New FO-7mo)
Around 2,000 cases
2013 Growing Season-Little Rainfall Feb/Mar
Spring/Summer- Warm and dry (Nice Days to encourage Vine Growth)
September-one rain event, excellent growing season altogether
Winemaking-fruit in cellar by the cool morning hrs
Grapes pressed to tank, immediately chilled and settled prior to fermentation-completed part in tank/part in barrel @ cool temps
Blend completed after 7mo of maturation on yeast lees
2012 Estate Élu Napa Valley Red Wine
Rutherford Estate Vineyard/Dollarhide Estate Vineyard, Napa Valley
72% Cabernet Sauvignon
13% Merlot
10% Malbec
3% Cabernet Franc
2% Petit Verdot
100% French oak (55% new French oak) for 19 months
Aromas of blackberry, black plum with elements of espresso, vanillin and molasses, smoky oak and dusty terroir. Flavors of cassis follow with anise and toasted barrel attributes
Hovering around 2,500 cases
Growing Season:
2012 commenced with very dry/cold winter w/dry spell persisted through end of February, Sierras had minimal snowfall.
March-nine inches of rain, replenishing groundwater reserves. A warm Spring-warm w/moderate to hot June, July and August followed, excellent ripening weather through the summer,
September-warm allowing a good, even and progressive harvest. October-hot start followed by even, warm conditions
Winemaking:
Fruit hand harvested-cool morning hours in half ton bins.
Clusters sorted using a double sorting system.
1st sorted by hand 2nd Fruit then ran through a small destemmer that removed stems from the grapes prior to individual berries being sorted
Fermenter period of resting on skins. Warm fermentation temperatures with gentle cap maceration to achieve the desired color and structure before an extended maceration time on skins prior to final pressing. The wine was transferred directly to barrel for 19 months of maturation.
