2011 Sylvanus

View fullsize

Sylvanus is a wine of place, a vin de terroir. This bone-dry, aromatic white wine is a true field blend comprised of 60% Muscat, 30% Pinot Grigio and 10% Pinot Bianco all grown together, harvested together and fermented together. Sylvanus is not only the name of the wine, but the name of the vineyard and the legendary Green Man who this vineyard and wine honor. In creating a field blend as opposed to blending different wine lots together, we are capturing the essence of our time and place as expressed by the vineyard Sylvanus. All of the fruit was hand-harvested, whole cluster-pressed, fermented in stainless steel barrels (41%) and older oak barrels (59%). One bin of grapes was skin-fermented for 13 days and blended back in accounting for 18% and adding a punch of aromatics, flavor and texture. The wine was handled minimally and bottled by gravity on September 21, 2012. Our 2011 Sylvanus is pale-straw in color and possesses a clean, pronounced aromatic personality. The wine is medium-bodied, has moderate alcohol and juicy acidity. The flavors and aromas are reminiscent of grapes, tangerines, grapefruit, minerals and flowers like honeysuckle and nasturtium. Our Sylvanus is juicy, tangy and alive with a long gratifying almost spicy and saline finish. This is the perfect aperitif wine and also pairs with stuffed squash blossoms, fresh cheeses, oysters and clams on the half shell, light salads, or charcuterie. There is a lovely interplay between the light, ethereal qualities of this wine and its satisfying ripeness and swelling texture. Our 2011 Sylvanus encompasses the paradoxical quality of aromatic lift, lightness and fleshy weight. 258 cases and sixty plus kegs of the 2011 vintage were produced and we are proud to offer you this playful yet serious and delicious white wine.