Ladi's
Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon
Hoenselaars
Vineyard
Petite Sirah
Elizabeth
& Henry's
Pinot Noir
Grandview
Vineyard
Sauvignon Blanc
Hoenselaars
Vineyard
Estate Syrah
2001 “Hoenselaars Vineyard” Petite Sirah
Price: $60
The 2001
harvest from our estate vineyard, was to put it mildly: outstanding. A
coldish summer was followed by a nice warm stretch, which lasted from
mid-September through October. The extra long growing season gave the
fruit a long ‘hangtime’ on the vines. This extended ‘hangtime’
allowed the sun to ripen the fruit at a late stage, giving the grapes
an extraordinary level of depth, concentration and ripeness.
After hand harvesting the grapes, they were cold soaked for several days,
followed by a long warm fermentation (90 degrees F). This was carried
out in a one-ton ‘open top’ Fermentor. The fermenting juice
was personally punched down by foot several times a day.
The grapes
were pressed off a few days after dryness straight into two 100% new barrels.
One of which was a thin staved tight grain medium toast French, the other
a blend of a tight grain French body and American medium + toast head.
It completed Malolactic Fermentation in these barrels.
Black is
an understatement for the color of this wine; it is also unusually dense,
thick and unctuous. There is a highly concentrated fruit that is also
fairly complex, one moment there seems to be more blackberry than blackberry,
and the next it is all cassis. There is a myriad of other fruit flavors
enhanced by good helping of roasted nuts, coffee and smoky notes. The
finish has considerable length, the sign of a keeper. To be quite honest,
I believe this to be an extra ordinary wine that is only achievable on
the rarest occasions.
This ‘Big Boy’ could be cellared for at least a generation under ideal conditions. But is at this moment is giving quite “The Experience” for those fortunate enough to have a taste.
