2018 Henry's Blend, Red Wine

Vineyard: Traversing the edge Mayacamas Mountains to the north and the banks of the Russian River to the south lies our Geyserville Ranch. With 80 acres under vine this site is surrounded by vineyards that have been farmed by multigenerational grape growing families since the mid 1800’s, many of whom continue to produce some of the most sought-after fruit in the valley. Most of the soil is a mix of fine gravel from centuries of erosion combined with clay loam and silt deposits from the river. Days are filled with ample sun exposure but at night, the river funnels cool air from the ocean settling into the valley allowing the vines to recover and extend ripening to yield elegance and finesse. Certified Sustainable in 2017 (CCSW)

 

38°73'05.1"N 122°91'28.2"W

 

Vintage: The 2018 vintage will be one described by poets and songwriters…it was a season of dreams. The harvest began in earnest the second week of September, which is considered normal in most years, but for the past three or four harvests it would seem late. The term “hang-time” gets used a lot in describing harvests, but 2018 sure proved to be the harvest of hang-time. A moderate summer, leading to a moderate fall weather pattern allowed for full flavor development across all varieties.

 

Winemaking: The grapes were all hand harvested, sorted, and sent directly to small open top fermentation tanks. The fermentations were done using a unique cap irrigation device that brings in air as the free-run wine is being circulated over the cap during the peak of fermentation. This technique ensures the binding of tannins with the color compounds found in the grapes as well as maximizing proper yeast cell health and viability. The blend consists of 35% Cabernet Sauvignon, 34% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 13% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Malbec. The varieties were fermented and aged separately and blended after 12 months.