|
PHILOSOPHY: Clos LaChance’s mission is to provide our customers with high quality, stylistically consistent wines that represent the characteristics of our Estate Vineyards and the Santa Cruz Mountains. We strive to capitalize on our current and future resources in the vineyards and facility, as well as provide superior value in the ultra premium wine segment.
VINEYARDS: The rugged topography of the Santa Cruz Mountains limits the size of individual vineyards. The costs associated with planting small mountain vineyards limits the overall acreage devoted to grapes in this cool coastal appellation. In 1996, to ensure a continuing supply of highquality fruit, Clos LaChance’s owners Bill and Brenda Murphy established CK Vines (www.ckvines.com), a vineyard maintenance and installation company specializing in “back-yard” vineyard development throughout the Santa Cruz Mountain appellation.
WINEMAKING: The grapes were hand-harvested, hand-sorted, de-stemmed and transferred via gravity exclusively to open-topped tanks. The grapes were then cold soaked 3-5 days on average. Punch-downs were initiated twice daily at the beginning and end of fermentation. The frequency of punch-downs was increased to four times daily at the peak of fermentation. Post fermentation, the wine was drained to barrel for malolactic fermentation and ageing. The wine was aged for 16 months in 40% new French oak and 60% used French oak barrels sur lie (no racking). This wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered.
WINEMAKER'S TASTING NOTES: Ripe strawberry, raspberry and cherry-cola aromas lead to hints of vanilla, brown sugar, nutmeg and cream. Flavors of boysenberry, cherry and cranberry fruit with spice, minerals and earth rounding out a medium/long finish.
FOOD PAIRING RECCOMENDATIONS: Pinot Noir is a versatile wine pairing with many different types of food, including: Smoked Poultry (Chicken, Duck or Turkey), Wild Game (Pheasant, Quail, Venison or Rabbit), Grilled Leg of Lamb, Salmon and Humbolt Fog Cheese.
|
 "Click here to enlarge image!")
Click to enlarge image