Syrah

Syrah

Appellation: Applegate Valley – Vineyard: Mae’s Vineyard. Located in the Applegate Valley in Southern Oregon, Mae’s Vineyard is owned and managed by Herb Quady (Quady North Wines). Planted in 2006, the vines are trained on a “V” type trellis that splits the canopy, allowing for lots of leaf area and diffracted light. The vineyard is planted 45 degrees to the east of North, giving more even light exposure during high summer, with south southeast exposure. The soil series is “Manita”, gravelly loam, granitic with red/yellow dirt. The Cabernet Franc clone is 214 on 3309 root stock. Mae’s Vineyard is LIVE Certified. This is the first commercially produced still white wine from Cabernet Franc grapes. The fruit was gently pressed and immediately removed from the skins to avoid the influence of pigment and tannin contained in the skins. The juice settled in tank for 24 hours, then was transferred into neutral oak for barrel fermentation. The wine was transferred once more into stainless steel drums and stirred on the lees to augment the natural acidity and fruit flavors, and to add richness and a salinity to the finish. Delicate nuances of “early blush” apricot, golden raspberries, Meyer lemon, blood orange, white tea leaf, tarragon, and hazelnut add to this, pretty, complex white wine from red grapes. Drink now for freshness, but this wine will age in the bottle for a couple years from the initial phenolics provided by the red skins. 90 cases made, 12.5% alcohol.