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CLINE CELLARS
Technical Notes
1997 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre
Contra Costa County
HARVEST DATE: August 13 to September 17
BRIX AT HARVEST: 23.6° to 26.1°
TOTAL ACIDITY: 0.61 g/100ml
FINAL PH: 3.50
RESIDUAL SUGAR: 0.15 g/100ml
ALCOHOL: 14.0%
SUGGESTED RETAIL: $20 |
VINTAGE NOTES
Harvest 1997 was yet another early year. Once again, a warm spring contributed to a fast growing cycle, which meant
that Cline Cellars' grapes were brought in three weeks earlier than usual. Additionally, the 1997 harvest was an
extremely large crop to those at Cline Cellars, despite what is admittedly a minuscule harvest by state averages.
Indeed, this harvest brought to Cline Cellars a exceedingly high-quality crop of very forward; very structured
fruit blessed with extraordinary dark ruby colors. Specifically, Mourvèdre grapes harvested from Contra
Costa County vineyards exhibited exceptional body, deliciously ripe fruit and a complex tannin structure.
VINEYARDS
The 1997 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre draws from a wide selection of our oldest, most historic and shyest-bearing
Mourvèdre blocks, all of which are over 100 years in age. These special vineyards consistently produce fruit
of stunning concentration. The lots that we hand-selected for the 1997 blend showed an added degree of ripeness
and dimension that is the result of sensitive farming practices, the singular Oakley terrior and a unique cooling
band of air that flows in from the San Joaquin and Sacramento Rivers. By restricting yields to 2 to 3 tons per
acre (a record year for these vineyards), we have achieved sublime expression of the dark, dusty cherry fruit quality
that is so characteristic of old vine, Contra Costa Mourvèdre.
FERMENTATION AND AGING
Individual lots of fruit for the 1997 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre were harvested separately according to ripeness
and balance of acidity. The grapes underwent near total destemming and a very gentle crushing to ensure a large
proportion of whole berries in the must--contributing to the explosive fruit character of the wine. Fermentation
was carried out in stainless steel with select cultured yeasts after a 48-hour cold soak to extract color and flavor
early on. The wines were pressed off their skins at dryness and racked twice before being laid down to a complement
of small American and French cooperage--approximately 30% new American. Prior to bottling, separate lots of Mourvèdre
were blended together to achieve a balanced and harmonious wine, exhibiting firm structure, ripe tannins and plush
fruit.
WINEMAKER'S COMMENTS
Mourvèdre, once widely planted in California at the turn of the century, has dwindled in acreage to about
300 acres. Cline Cellars controls a full 90%, making us the sole bearers of an important and historic Californian
viticulture tradition. An interesting grape to work with in the cellar. Mourvèdre is particularly resistant
to oxidization and is capable of producing wines with firm structure and rich, dark fruit that will age for over
a decade. The 1997 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre, is a beautiful example of how well our 100 plus year old Mourvèdre
vines respond to modern winemaking techniques. Redolent of dark cherry, chocolate, eucalyptus, exotic spice and
earth character, the 1997 Ancient Vines Mourvèdre is delicious presently and will age for well over a decade.
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