0.0
0 Ratings
750ML
/ 0% ABV
Winemaker Notes
The 1998 Atelier is a blend of 68% Cabernet Franc from the Stolpman Vineyard and 32% Merlot from our Estate. The grapes were crushed and fermented separely with the Merlot coming in on time in early October and the Cabernet Franc four weeks later at the end of the month. Both were harvested with ripe sugars of 24.5-25 degrees brix. The grapes were destemmed, slightly crushed and fermented with cultured yeast in open top fermentors. Maceration time varied from 18 to 27 days depending on the fermentor with three punch downs daily. After pressing the wine was racked to barrel where MLF completed spontaneously. The wine was blended prior to the 1999 harvest then aged an additional eight months in 25% new French oak. The wine was lightly filtered and unfined prior to bottling in June of 2000.
The goal of Beckmen Vineyards is to become the most prominent family owned vineyard estate in Santa Barbara County. Rhone style wines cultivated from Purisima Mountain Vineyard will be their contribution to the next chapter of winegrowing in the Santa Ynez Valley. To appreciate this goal is to be able to understand the history of the Santa Barbara Wine country and the pioneering spirit of Tom Beckmen and his family.
In 1996 Beckmen Estate Vineyards purchased Purisima Mountain Vineyard a 365-acre Estate overlooking the Santa Ynez Valley, where there are ideal soils and climate for Rhone varieties. They began planting in 1997 and have completed a total of 130 acres at this time. The high density plantings are designed to optimize different hillside exposures and elevations.
EPCBENATR_1998 Item# 20094