Winemaker Greg La Follette — fermentation and pressing Berger Vineyard – Sonoma Mountain Cabernet, Cab Franc, and Merlot
- By mjms47
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- 13 Oct, 2014
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On Friday we pressed of the Cab France from the Berger Vineyard, and are barreling it down today. Initially, the Cab Franc had a hard time in terms of fermentation. It was very nuanced and subtle, but gained strength and built itself during fermentation, with a little guiding care and love. It pressed off very […]
The second pick of Cabernet is coming along very nicely and for that we’ve selected a number of different barrels and are doing some very interesting barrel trials that we’ll be able to look at this winter and into next year. I’ve chosen to use barrels from many of the coopers we’re getting. I really want to explore where our coopers are going to express best with the Cabernet. I think there’s enough strength in this vintage, that we can really dial in exactly what coopers, forests, and toasts levels work best with this vineyard.
The drain-offs of the Cabernet are going very well today. They are both very dark, but quite distinct. It should be great for having two different profiles as we make the next generation of the different wines from this vineyard – the vineyard-designate Berger Cabernet, the Sappho, and the Tò Érgon.
This is a blessing, this vintage. It’s really being generous with us — it’s allowing us to explore a few different techniques, a few different styles, wild fermentation versus different types of of yeast inoculation, different cap management techniques. And I think this will hold us in really good stead for future vintages. I’m really excited that this vintage is generously allowing us so much room for experimentation without a great deal of risk.
Ancient Oak Cellars, and Jon McDaniel with Second City Soil, gathered 60+ of the top sommeliers from around the country to taste four wines that Ancient Oak had sent to each -- and to enter into a discussion of the wines, farming and winemaking philosophies, and a wide-range of other related topics. We had a blast!
Re-live your experience, or take it in for the first time. Then be in touch to continue the discussions. Cheers!
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