Wine Article
2001 Kent Rasmussen Petite Sirah Reserve Leeds-Chavez Vineyard
Last edited on 5/12/2008 by Loweeel
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Grapes:
* Harvest Date: September 28th, 2001
* Grape Source: Leeds-Chavez Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley (Grapes are Certified Organic)
* Brix at Harvest: 23.8 degrees
* Maceration: 22 days fermenting on skins
* Aging: 36 months in new French oak barrels
Chemistry at Bottling
* pH: 3.76
* Total Acidity: 6.1 g/L
* Alcohol: 13.88%
* Free (Total) Sulfur Dioxide: 26 (65) parts per million
* Bottling Date: November 16, 2004
* Production: 48 cases (12x750ml)
Winemaker's Notes:
This wine was a tiny lot—just two barrels. From the day I first tasted them, they seemed special. There was no particular reason that I would have expected these two barrels to be different, it just seemed that every time I tasted through the barrels of our 2001 KRW Petite Sirah these two stood out as something exceptional. Come bottling time I just couldn’t bring myself to add them to the blend, so I kept them out, allowed them to age a third year in barrel and bottled them as a special lot. I then left the wine in bottle for an additional two years to age before release. Try this—it is spectacular; I guarantee that you will finish the bottle! It has been made more like a old-style Rioja with three years in barrel and four years in bottle. It is beautiful to drink now (I can attest that that!)
* Harvest Date: September 28th, 2001
* Grape Source: Leeds-Chavez Vineyard, Rutherford, Napa Valley (Grapes are Certified Organic)
* Brix at Harvest: 23.8 degrees
* Maceration: 22 days fermenting on skins
* Aging: 36 months in new French oak barrels
Chemistry at Bottling
* pH: 3.76
* Total Acidity: 6.1 g/L
* Alcohol: 13.88%
* Free (Total) Sulfur Dioxide: 26 (65) parts per million
* Bottling Date: November 16, 2004
* Production: 48 cases (12x750ml)
Winemaker's Notes:
This wine was a tiny lot—just two barrels. From the day I first tasted them, they seemed special. There was no particular reason that I would have expected these two barrels to be different, it just seemed that every time I tasted through the barrels of our 2001 KRW Petite Sirah these two stood out as something exceptional. Come bottling time I just couldn’t bring myself to add them to the blend, so I kept them out, allowed them to age a third year in barrel and bottled them as a special lot. I then left the wine in bottle for an additional two years to age before release. Try this—it is spectacular; I guarantee that you will finish the bottle! It has been made more like a old-style Rioja with three years in barrel and four years in bottle. It is beautiful to drink now (I can attest that that!)