Imagery Mourvedre Lake County 2005

Winemaker's Notes:

VINTAGE 2005 RELEASE DATE April 2007 AVAILABILITY Winery Only CASES PRODUCED 491 APPELLATION Lake County VINEYARD Shannon Ridge Vineyard LABEL ARTIST Gladys Nilson Wilimette, Illinois VARIETAL: This classic Spanish varietal thrives in the red volcanic soil found on Morine Vineyard in Lake County. With a high elevation and the cooling affects of nearby Clear Lake, this spot produces fruit with deep, rich flavors. VINTAGE: Things could not have started off worse this vintage; with a cold, wet spring and periodic rains during the summer, all matter of fungus and mold were alive and well. The amount of extra time we spent adjusting and readjusting canopies and mowing and re-mowing vineyard rows, cost us about 20% more than normal. Moving into harvest, just one rain could have knocked us out cold, but then a miracle! 30 plus days of perfect Indian summer. We ended up getting the grapes just the way we wanted them. Unknown to us, the grapes continued to gain weight late in the year. The extra weight slowed and lengthened the ripening process and this combined with great weather brought our grapes to perfect ripeness. The last grapes were picked on November 11, the latest ever for us in Sonoma. The last press load was December 1st and by this time, we were sick of harvest. This was one of those very rare harvests where we got it both ways—exceptional quality and excellent yields. VINIFICATION: The grapes cold soaked for 3 days prior to fermentation. Fermentation went to dryness and lasted 14 days. The wine was then lightly pressed to maintain a delicate balance between flavors, color and tannins. The 2005 Mourvedre spent 14 months in French oak barrels before bottling in February 2007. Alcohol 15.2%, Total Acidity .54 pH 3.86.