Beringer Knights Valley Alluvium Red 2006
Bordeaux Red Blends
from Sonoma County, California
winemaker's notes:
Located 17 miles northwest of the winery, this vineyard has volcanic, well-drained soils that are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Semillon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Knights Valley designation was first used on a Beringer label in 1974. By 1983, this area had won official recognition as a premier wine growing region in the form of its own American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation. Today, Winemaker Laurie Hook uses these wonderful grapes to craft our renowned Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Alluvium Blanc and Alluvium Red.
As has become tradition, Laurie kept all of the lots separate during vinification and aging so that the subtle differences of each individual lot of the vineyard are exhibited. She tasted the lots frequently, closely monitoring fermentations and ensuring a rich, garnet color and silky tannins. The wines were then aged in small French oak barrels (53% new) for 14 months to soften the tannins and add layers of toasty oak, cedar, vanilla and sweet spice. Laurie’s careful monitoring and then blending of each of these lots and varietals results in a seamless and utterly unique wine. The final blend is 79% Merlot, 18% Cabernet Sauvignon, and small portions of Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petite Verdot.
"Blending the Alluvium is as rewarding as it is challenging, with a commitment to create an expression of the best red Bordeaux varietals with each vintage. The proprietary Alluvium name pays homage to the alluvial soils of Knights Valley, a vineyard that Beringer has a rich history with, and one that consistently rewards me with wonderful fruit to work with. The 2006 Alluvium is ripe with cassis and cedar aromas, along with hints of cardamom and cocoa. Flavors of sun-ripened cherries, vanilla bean and a lip-smacking blackberry finish make this an instantly enthralling wine." - Laurie Hook, Beringer Vineyards Winemaker