Late Harvest Vignoles

2007 was good to the whole vineyard and really good to Vignoles. This grape, for our purpose of harvesting late in the season and ultra ripe, really needs dry weather in August and September. With tight clusters and thin skin, it will rot quickly with a big rain in those months. Harvest occurred on Sept 5 with 7.6 tons of perfect fruit picked at 29.8 brix. We grow 3.9 acres of this variety which makes this harvest yield 1.95 tons an acre - quite low compared to the 5 or more tons per acre that other grapes yield at Creekbend. 

When the grapes are this good, the winemaking is easy. After a light crush and press, the juice is cold settled for 72 hours. The clean juice is then racked to a stainless tank for a long cool fermentation arrested at approximatly 12%  sugar and 10% alcohol. 

The 2007 is bright with a honeysuckle aroma and lingering honey and apricot character.  Late Harvest Vignoles is a wine that likes a little age. We have seen this in past vintages as the wine becomes richer with characters more of caramel and cream. Taste it over time to appreciate these changes.