In 2018, our Gewürztraminer vines set a bountiful crop. After we harvested enough to produce our dry wines and grape juice, we decided to leave the remaining block unharvested, keeping our fingers crossed for a botrytised Late Harvest wine. In mid-October, after these grape clusters became infected with the noble rot, we finally were able to harvest. The grapes were destemmed and a long cold-soak released the concentrated flavors in the botrytised raisins. We were thrilled with the intensity of flavors and high sugar content in the juice; it's the highest-Brix Gewürz Late Harvest we've been able to harvest since the 1990s. Yeasts have difficulty fermenting juice with a high sugar content so the fermentation proceeded very slowly—the three month fermentation ended in February 2019 and the wine was bottled at month-end. Intense flavors of pineapple, passion fruit and honey are supported by bright acidity. Gold Medal winner. Best of Show.
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Gewürztraminer grape clusters have very short stems so the clusters tend to be clumped making it difficult to find a space to insert shears. Gewürz skins are tough and not prone to rot until they are overripe. However, once rot starts in one cluster, the botrytis spreads quickly in the surrounding tight bunches.
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