Nose
Beautiful floral and red fruit aromatics.
Palate
The is palate of cherry, plum, and warm spice, with a soft texture on finish.
Growing Conditions
The Valdiguié comes from Rancho Chimiles in southeastern Napa County, owned and managed by the Wilson family.
Rancho Chimiles is located in the southeastern hills of Napa County, in a bench of the Vaca Mountain range. It was part of one of the original Mexican land grants in California, and the property has been owned and farmed by the Wilson family for over 60 years. The first vineyard planted by Terry and Virginia Wilson in 1972 was a ten-acre block of Valdiguié, known at the time as “Napa Gamay.” The variety was widely planted in the Napa Valley prior to the late 1980s and was favored for its ability to produce table wines with great color, concentration, and acidity. We are fortunate that two acres of the original block still remain, planted in marine sediment and sandstone.
Harvest
The fruit was harvested predawn on the twenty-sixth of September.
Bottling
The wine was bottled without any fining or filtration.
Winemaking
Thirty percent of the fruit was left as whole cluster, while the balance was de-stemmed, all went in to a concrete fermenter. Fermentation occurred with ambient yeasts and the must was pressed ten days after harvest. Primary and malolactic fermentation finished in neutral oak barrels, no additions were made except for sulfur dioxide.
Aging
Aged in neutral French oak.
Appearance
Bright and intense color.
Food Pairing
Will pair well with all types of food, and can be served with a slight chill.