VINEYARD Mt. Carmel
CLONES Pommard, Swan, 667, 2A, 828
ORIENTATION East/West
TRELLISING VSP
SOIL Botella clay and limestone
FERMENTATION 64% concrete, 43% whole cluster, 29% stainless steel, 7% wood fermentation
OAK 36% new French oak for 16 months, 15% new Austrian oak for 16 months, finished in 100% stainless steel for 4 months
ALCOHOL 13.5%
pH 3.55
TA 5.97 g/L
AROMA
Brilliant vivacity with enticing notes of raspberry, blueberry, dried herbs, and cacao nibs.
PALATE
Firm and energetic, with compact and precise tannins. Lengthy and completely unforgettable.
Planted in 1989, on steep and rugged land surrounding an abandoned Carmelite monastery, Mt. Carmel was one of the first vineyards planted in the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Primarily dry-farmed, Mt. Carmel is extremely cool and windy. This, combined with exceptional Botella clay and limestone soils, produces a wine that is as intricate and dynamic as it is alluring.
Combining five elite clones and made with 43% whole cluster, it has a superb, terroir-driven structure, seductive tannins, and an underlying tensile acidity. On the palate, pure, vibrant flavors of raspberry, blueberry, cacao nibs, and dried herbs coalesce around an energetic core, before culminating in a long, resonant finish.
Fact of Note: Inaugural vintage of Mt. Carmel in the Single Vineyard Series.
THE STA. RITA HILLS IS located between the towns of Buellton and Lompoc in Santa Barbara County. A critical component for this region’s success is its cool climate and the purely East/West mountain range, whose maritime mouth funnels coastal fog and wind to the vines. This unique orientation, coupled with exceptional Botella clay and limestone soils, produces wines that are as focused and bright as they are alluring.
Before you hit the Sta. Rita Hills, stretch your legs and explore the various hotels, restaurants, parks, and shops of the quaint town of Buellton. Now famous after making its silver screen debut in the movie Sideways, you can relive the film by visiting one of the many charming eateries and must-go spots when in the area.
