|
|
August West Wines1437 visitors
| Nearby Monterey Bay holds an immense influence over the weather at Rosella's Vineyard. Typical growing days are marked by dense fog in the early morning hours followed by bright, mild sunshine just before noon. By mid afternoon a strong wind originating from the bay picks up and blows through the north-south rows at Rosella's, cooling the vines down and blanketing the vineyard in fog around dusk. Each of the three grape varieties grown at Rosella's seem to thrive in this cool weather, particularly Pinot Noir. | Sebastopol, CA
Phone: (415) 225-2891
Website: http://www.augustwestwine.com
Appellation: Green Valley of Russian River Valley
Map to August West Wines
|
|
Pinot Noir
|
2006 Graham Family Vineyard Pinot Noir
Russian River Valley
After two years of one ton per acre harvests or less at the Graham Family Vineyard, its third vintage produced close to three tons per acre. The 2006 Graham Pinot Noir is just abo ... moreut a mirror image of the beautiful 2004 we produced from this vineyard. The color is a deceivingly light, clear ruby, but the herb and spice scented nose is one of the prettiest and most powerful we’ve ever made in a Pinot Noir. The palate is lush with bright fruit flavors and the finish is balanced by perfect Russian River Valley acidity. Try one in 2008, but the patient will be rewarded from 2009 and on.
| |
|
Chardonnay
|
2006 Rosella's Vineyard Chardonnay
Santa Lucia Highlands
The 2006 August West Rosella’s Chardonnay is in many ways very similar to the 2005, our first vintage, and in other ways, quite different. Both wines were fermented in one year ... moreold French barrels with native yeasts and ML bacteria, and they both sat sur lies until bottling. 2005 and 2006 were very similar as long, cool harvests as well. The biggest difference is that the 2006 shows off more of the citrus and tropical character that comes from the Rosella’s Vineyard. The texture is full, round and expansive, and the finish is indefinitely long.
| |
|
Pinot Noir
|
2006 Rosella's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands
The Rosella’s Vineyard Pinot Noir is the wine which launched the August West label in 2002. In a way, we could call it our flagship wine. The 2006 version shows classic Rosella ... more’s Vineyard characteristics, and is a testament to Gary Franscioni’s unparalleled farming of his vineyard. It starts with the intriguingly spicy and fruit-driven nose which immediately tells you the wine is from the Santa Lucia Highlands. The natural acidity on the palate brings the wonderful rhubarb and cola flavors into focus in time for the long, slightly toasty finish. The 2006 Rosella’s Pinot Noir should drink well from the end of 2008 through at least 2012.
| |
|
Syrah
|
2006 Rosella's Vineyard Syrah
Santa Lucia Highlands
Once again we have used the technique of whole cluster fermentation with our Rosella’s Vineyard Syrah in order to gain the complexity and the white pepper flavor that comes from ... moreSyrah stems. In 2006 the Syrah was fermented with 50% whole cluster and 50% destemmed fruit. The clones at Rosella’s are 877 and Bien Nacido and we used one half ton of each. From the warm June and July in 2006, the Syrah vines got a head start on ripening, even though the fall was anything but warm. This is a wine that will need at least 3 years in the cellar to begin to open and show off its ripe blackberry and pepper characteristics, although 24 hours in a decanter can give you a sneak preview of the wine.
| |
Updated on December 18, 2007
CrazyAboutWine recommends contacting August West Wines at http://www.augustwestwine.com or calling (415) 225-2891 to verify the winery's location.
|
| |
