North America | California | Precedent | Carignan Spenker Ranch

Carignan Spenker Ranch

VARIETAL
Old Vine Carignan

NOTES

VINEYARD: Spenker Ranch, known locally as Jessie's Grove's Block 4, is 8 acres of own-rooted Carignan vines (a block that, up until the mid-1990s, used to total over 40 acres) originally planted by Joseph Spenker in 1900 and earlier. This block has a long, established history of yielding red wines with the bounciest black cherry fruit qualities, yet always high enough in acidity to give the zestiest flavors which mingle with loamy earth toned qualities typical of many red wines grown on the west side of Lodi's Mokelumne River appellation.

VINIFICATION: Fermented whole cluster after holding the grapes in a closed tank for about 4 days until there's slight carbonic maceration (i.e. intracellular berry fermentation, which tends to accentuate fruitiness and yield softer tannin). After that, the tops are removed off the tank and the fermentation gets going with foot treading. Pump-overs instead of punchdowns to keep the cap (i.e. the grape skins rising to the top during fermentation) wet and to get a lighter extraction (thus minimizing bitterness from tannin). After about 8 days, when the fermentation is not quite completely dry, the wine was pressed off the skins and is then aged in completely neutral French oak — barrels that are at least 6, 7 years old and previously used only for Chardonnay, never any red wines.

TASTING NOTES: Superb. Fresh and pristine. There's a savory character specific to Spenker Ranch which is noticeable in this wine.