Varietal
The grapes for this wine are from the Bartolucci Vineyard in Lake County, where the 6 year-old vines of this Italian clone of Muscat Canelli are farmed organically. Vineyard practices are focused on emphasizing the floral and citrus characteristics in the grapes.

Vintage
Things could not have started off worse this vintage; a cold, wet spring and periodic rains during the summer, all matter of fungus and mold were alive and well. The amount of extra time we spent adjusting and readjusting canopies and mowing and re-mowing vineyard rows, cost us 20% more than normal. Moving into harvest, just one rain could have knocked us cold, but then a miracle! 30 plus days of perfect Indian summer. We ended up getting the grapes just the way we wanted them. Unknown to us, the grapes continued to gain weight late in the year. The extra weight slowed and lengthened the ripening process and this combined with great weather brought our grapes to perfect ripeness. The last grapes were picked on November 11, the latest ever for us in Sonoma. The last press load was December 1st and by this time, we were sick of harvest. This was one of those very rare harvests where we got it both ways- exceptional quality and excellent yields.

Vinification
In the winery we use whole cluster pressing and an aggressive press cut to insure beautiful floral fruit without astringency. Tank fermentation at low temperatures allows us to slow the fermentation process to preserve fruit flavors and aromas. We stop the fermentations with just enough residual sugar to emphasize and balance the crisp acidity. The wine was bottled early for freshness. Alcohol 12.0%, Total acidity .63, pH 3.13, Residual sugar 5.2%.

Tasting Notes
This wine is extravagantly floral and fruity in character, with the hallmark musky overtone of the varietal. It tastes of apple, lime blossom, honeysuckle, clove, and ripe grapes, and is mildly sweet, medium bodied, and intensely flavored on the palate.

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