2021 Big Fork Red

Vineyard: Good Earth Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore (Cab Franc); Hemeris Vineyard, Beamsville Bench (Merlot)
ABV: 12%
RS: 2 g/L

The Vintage: 2021, while a cooler vintage, also helped deliver wines with elegant structure and vibrant fruit. The season was extremely warm and arid throughout summer with a cooler fall and periodic rain that required careful crop management and harvest timing.

Winemaking:
A blend of 57% Cabernet Franc from our Good Earth Vineyard and 43% Merlot from a 20-year-old planting on the Beamsville Bench. Grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted on different dates in late October, then destemmed and left to cold soak on skins prior to fermentation. Fermentation took place in small open-top fermenters with the skins punched down twice per day. Post ferment, the wine remained on skins for 5 days, then was gently pressed and aged in new and seasoned French oak barrels for over 13 months. This blend of 2021 The Big Fork was artfully crafted by barrel selection.

Description:
Bright notes of strawberry, raspberry and currants on the nose, with vanilla and baking spice underneath. Fresh red and black fruits including raspberry and mulberry continue on the palate, combining with fresh fig, smoked meat and tobacco in the background. Drinking well now and can age gracefully into 2029.