Ravenswood Pickberry 1997

As with the Rancho Salina, the Pickberry might accurately be classified as a Meritage, but where Rancho Salina is built in the fashion of a Margaux, Pickberry is constructed more along the lines of a top Pomerol. The Pickberry Vineyard, located on the slopes of Sonoma Mountain, porvides grapes of enormous intensity and complexity of flavor. Harvested separately, inpart due to the fact that they ripen at different times, the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot components, which make up our Pickberry blend, are fermented in open wood vats and, like the Rancho Salina, are barreled individually read more...for a short period of time. After the secondary-malolactic-fermentation is complete, trial blends are created and sampled. From one of these blends comes the final version of Pickberry. In some vintages, the Cabernet Sauvignon has been the primary varietal; in others, the Merlot dominates. The finished wine continues to age in barrel for roughly two full years. Traditionally deep in color, with rich chocolate and cassis scents, this full fruited and amply oaked wine will benefit from a minimum of 5 additional years of bottle age, but dont hesitate to hold on to it for 10 or more years.    (hide)