Côtes D' Oakley-Vin Rouge

Cline Cellars
1997 Côtes D' OakleyVin Blanc
California

TECHNICAL NOTES
1997 Côtes D' Oakley Vin Blanc
HARVEST DATE: Sept. thru Oct. 1997
BRIX AT HARVEST: 23.4°
TOTAL ACIDITY: 0.57 g/100ml
FINAL pH: 3.40
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 0.125 g/100ml
ALCOHOL: 13.5%
SUGGESTED RETAIL: $8.50

VINTAGES NOTES
The 1997 growing season could be described as one of the earliest and largest on record. In most parts of the state bud break was early and the warm summer weather sped our grapes towards ripeness. However, reasonable yields and innovative farming techniques produced an excellent crop of surprisingly concentrated and complex fruit. The grapes harvested at our Carneros and Contra Costa ranches exhibited great body while maintaining--particularly in the Carneros district--a bright acid structure. Wines from various regions of the state showed a consistently forward fruit character and stunning acidity, giving our Vin Blanc its lively, floral personality.

VINEYARDS
A wine such as our Vin Blanc, made from so many diverse varietals and appellations, is necessarily the product of a multitude of different terriors and micro-climates. What we consider to be the heart and soul of the Vin Blanc program is a small vineyard of head-trained, old vine Palomino and Semillon planted in the unique sandy soils of Contra Costa County. Low yields and the warm Contra Costa summers give the wines a special sense of power and richness. Additionally, Sauvignon Blanc from a hillside vineyard on the western mountains of Sonoma Valley adds crispness and lush fig notes, while Chenin Blanc from Monterey County adds lovely pear aromas and a steely backbone. Also from Monterey County, Gewnrztraminer adds a dense and exotic bouquet of spice and floral notes. Other grapes including Chardonnay, Pinot Gris, Roussanne, Marsanne and Viognier from our Carneros ranch; Muscat Canelli from Sonoma Valley; and additional Semillon from Santa Barbara fill out this wine's charming and multi-faceted personality. First and foremost, when selecting grapes and wines for the Vin Blanc program, we are particularly conscious of good acid balance, intensity of fruit and what a single varietal will offer to the blend as a whole.

FERMENTATION AND AGING
Our 1997 Côtes D'Oakley Vin Blanc is a true winemaker's cocktail. The production techniques used to create this unique blend were diverse, as each grape varietal was made separately, undergoing a fermentation and aging best suited to its character. Chardonnay underwent full barrel and malolactic fermentation in new, heavy toast American oak barriques, while Palomino was aged in 1,970 gallon French oak upright tanks. For a large portion of the blend, cold-fermentation in stainless steel and blocking of malolactic fermentation provided wonderful freshness and forward fruit. Marsanne, Roussanne and Viognier were barrel-aged on their fine yeast lees and stirred bi-weekly to add complexity and richness, while Gewürztraminer, Pinot Gris and Muscat Canelli were cold-fermented, adding tingling acidity and a faint hint of sweetness. Most importantly, extensive measures were taken to prevent oxidization of the juice and wine, ensuring that the 1997 Vin Blanc tastes fresh and lively. The finished wine was bottled in early May after a light filtration to preserve as much freshness, fruit and varietal characters as possible.

WINEMAKER'S COMMENTS
For my third vintage of Côtes D'Oakley Vin Blanc, I have set out to increase production of this unique wine without compromising its sophisticated quality. New to the blend this year are Gewürztraminer and Pinot Gris, both varieties from France's Alsace region. I am extremely pleased with the outcome of this vintage, as the blend offers an added degree of complexity, nice, rich tropical notes and great acidity. We intend this wine to be a uniquely Cline interpretation of an everyday table white--adventurous, affordable, delicious and always a Best Buy!. I recommend that you enjoy the 1997 Côtes D'Oakley Vin Blanc well chilled as an aperitif and with all means of summer cuisine, pasta salads and appetizers such as vine ripe tomatoes and fresh mozzarella drizzled with your best extra-virgin olive oil.

Back to Cline Cellars' Wine List

Copyright © 1997 Cline Cellars Inc., All Rights Reserved