2007 Valdiguié Vin de Primeur - Paso Robles

Overview
What's old is new again as we present this youthful taste of the 2007 vintage in celebration of our family's 40th harvest in California, starting with Chuck Ortman's first harvest in 1968. Today, Chuck is joined in the cellar by son Matt, who crafted this limited-production Vin Primeur to honor his father's unwavering passion for winemaking. Please enjoy this wine as a taste of our family tradition, as well as a preview of what's to come from the 2007 vintage.

Vineyards
French Camp Vineyard occupies the southeastern corner of the Paso Robles appellation, where cool nighttime temperatures coax excellent structure and color from red varietals. The first vines were planted in 1973, and the land was originally part of San Juan Ranch. The vineyard unfolds along the “rain shadow” of nearby Black Mountain, resulting in less than 11 inches of rainfall in an average year.

Winemaking
This wine is inspired by the French ritual of Beaujolais Nouveau, which celebrates the first wines authorized for immediate sale after fermentation. The Valdiguié grapes (a varietal closely related to Gamay, the varietal behind Beaujolais) were harvested at French Camp Vineyard in Paso Robles on September 13. We followed traditional Beaujolais Nouveau methods as closely as possible, including whole-cluster fermentation. Our labors produced a total of three barrels. After four weeks of aging, the wine was festively bottled by family and friends on October 20.

Tasting Notes
Our 2007 Vin de Primeur is fresh and lively with a brilliant fuchsia color around the edges candied strawberry aromatics that leap from the glass. Intensely fruity flavors of strawberry, cherry and cranberry unfold with crisp acidity unlike any other red wine. The texture is soft with a hint of tannin on the finish. This wine was made for the holidays, both in spirit and flavor. It will pair nicely with a variety of traditional holiday dishes and desserts, making it a perfect choice for your winter table.