Ravenswood Pickberry Vineyards 2001
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The Pickberry Vineyard, located on the slopes of Sonoma Mountain, porvides grapes of enormous intensity and complexity of flavor. Harvested separately, inpart due to the fact that they ripen at different times, the Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot components, which make up our Pickberry blend, are fermented in open wood vats and, like the Rancho Salina, are barreled individually for a short period of time. After the secondary-malolactic-fermentation is complete, trial blends are created and sampled. From one of these blends comes the final version of Pickberry. In some vintages, the Cabernet Sauvignon has been the primary varietal; in others, the Merlot dominates. The finished wine continues to age in barrel for roughly two full years.
Traditionally deep in color, with rich chocolate and cassis scents, this full fruited and amply oaked wine will benefit from a minimum of 5 additional years of bottle age, but don't hesitate to hold on to it for 10 or more years.
Other Vintages
2013-
Wilfred
Wong
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Wine &
Spirits
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Wine &
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Wine
Enthusiast
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Wine
Enthusiast
Fueled initially by the inspiration and winemaking skills of Joel Peterson, aided and abetted by his business partner W. Reed Foster, Ravenswood winery has been dedicated to top quality, hand-crafted wine since the first crush in 1976. Every Ravenswood wine carries a unique vintage and vineyard identity in addition to the intense powerful – gothic – character with which the winery has come to be associated.
A key to Ravenswood’s success is their long-standing relationships with over 60 independent grape growers. Vineyards are chosen for their location, age, yield and special flavor characteristics. At Ravenswood, they are devoted to working with growers who share their philosophy about high quality.
Ravenswood Vineyard Designate wines are made employing what Joel Peterson refers to as “stubborn and impractical” Old World enological practices. Wines are fermented in small wooden tanks using wild, natural yeasts and punched down by hand three to five times per day. The wines are characterized by intense, spicy aromas supported by rich, berry flavors and long, clean finishes.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.