2005 Pinot Grigio

In 2004 only about a third of our Pinot Grigio saw any contact with oak, and the result was a much fresher wine. In fact, before I blended the '04, I preferred the portion of it that had only been in stainless so much that I decided to try the '05 entirely in stainless, and I'm really happy with the result.

FRUIT SOURCE:

Witters Vineyard, roughly 15 miles East from Placerville, at a site some 3400' above sea level. The vineyard is planted on a mild slope to the North, in volcanic clay-loam soil; '05 was the fourth harvest, at Witters.

WINEMAKING NOTES:

Grapes were harvested toward the beginning of the second week of September, hand picked into half ton bins, and the bins were dumped directly into a large membrane press, for whole cluster pressing. From the press pan, the juice went into a stainless fermenter, the cooling jackets were set at 55 degrees, and fermentation lasted nearly four weeks. At completion of fermentation the wine was transferred, with lees, into a variable capacity tank, and kept on lees until the end of August, 2006. It was cross-flow filtered, and bottled September 11, 2006.

WINEMAKER'S TASTING NOTES:

Pale color. Nose that carries both blossom and stone, and some white fruit ranging among melon, grapefruit and Comice pear. Firm and juicy in the mouth with marvelous stony texture and racy acidity. Flavors should broaden nicely over the next couple of years, though it's very easy to drink even now, and quite fine.

• Production: 400
• Suggested Retail: $16.00
• Release Date: 2006

Cellared and bottled by Wayward Pilgrims of the Vine under the direction of Steve Edmunds, winemaker.