2007 Eldorado Noir - Russian River Valley - 375ml Bottle [ $28 ]

Vintage Notes

Grown in the Russian River Valley, the Black Muscat grapes ripen slowly in the cool, foggy climate, reaching their full flavor maturity much later than other varieties of grapes. A cool, dry year from January to August led the way to a mild September and October, with fruit picked at an even pace, making for a relatively stress-free season. The first week of October brought cool days, swiftly moving clouds, acorns rapidly dropping, leaves yellowing and chilly nights. Overall this had to be one of the fastest harvests we can remember, yielding slightly lower than average, but with incredible concentration and intensity of flavors in the grapes.

Winemakers Notes

The grapes for this wine are left on the vine longer than other varieties in order to achieve a “late harvest” style, shriveling the ultra-ripe berries to 29 to 30 brix. The grapes undergo carbonic maceration for five to seven days, which helps the wine achieve the unique and rich concentration of flavors. Grapes are then removed from the carbonic tank, crushed and cold fermented to retain their freshness and fruitiness. The fermented Black Muscat grapes are then pressed and aged in stainless steel barrels. The resulting wine is rich, aromatic, and mouth filling with a lingering finish.