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Vineyards
Fruit for Nectar, our Late Harvest Semillon is sourced 100% from the Clos LaChance Estate Vineyard in San Martin. The 150-acre Estate Vineyard was planted in 1999-2000. Nearly 20 varietals were planted, along with 60 separate clones—providing our winemaker with a spice rack of blending wines. Hot sunny days throughout the growing season, coupled with cool ocean breezes in the evenings, allow for increased grape hang-time and the further development of flavors and complexities. Computerized vineyard maintenance and data recording systems (weather stations, leaf and soil sensors, automated irrigation and fergitation) were also installed onsite, ensuring the highest quality fruit possible.
Winemaking
This wine is created with Sauternes in mind. The Semillon and Sauvignon Blanc grapes are left out well after everything else has been picked until they become infected with Botrytis Cinerea, or “noble rot”. This rot in only welcome when making this style of wine and requires a very specific sequence of environmental conditions to flourish in order to concentrate the sugars in the grapes. When grapes become infected with Botrytis, it begins to concentrate the fruit, however, the right conditions do not always naturally occur to provide the level of sugars needed. So, to assist this process, we cut the fruiting canes near the trunk, essentially halting nutrients and water absorption to the grapes. Then, we leave the grapes out on the vine for another week or two to further concentrate the sugars, some actually begin to raisin a bit. This combination of Botrytis and desiccation creates grapes that aren’t pretty to look at but with sugar values in excess of 36 degrees brix. Upon pressing, the wine ferments in stainless tanks until the right balance of sugar to alcohol is achieved. The wine is then aged in used French oak barrels for 12 months prior to bottling.
Winemaker’s Tasting Notes
A beautiful yellow gold color that will darken with bottle age. Made in the Sauternesstyle with botrytized grapes. Rich aromas of orange peels, honey, almonds and apricots. The flavors of dried peach, apricot, honey and toasty almonds are perfectly balanced with a natural sweetness and acidity.
Late Harvest Semillon
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