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KATHY’S CORNER
My hat’s off to David Nemarnick,
Alloro Vineyard owner. It is a pleasure
working with this farmer who nurtures the
ground, the plants and the clusters and
who has built flexibility into his decision
making because he understands that every
vintage is unique.
The large potential crops of 2006 were
moderated at Alloro through diligent shoot
and cluster thinning, in spite of the favorable
spring weather, good berry set and the relatively
warmer summer and fall temperatures. After
tasting every barrel in our cellar, I felt
quite confident that I discovered four barrels
that were distinctly spectacular. Enjoy
the find!
printable
notes
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THE VINEYARD
& THE VINTAGE
• The 70 acre Alloro
Vineyard, planted in 1999, is situated on
a southwest facing slope on Laurel Ridge
of the Chehalem Mountains, perched at a
700 foot elevation. Its Laurelwood soil
is comprised of decomposed volcanic material
below a top layer of ancient sedimentary
soil. Blocks of Pommard, 114 and 777 are
reserved for Fiddlehead.
• The growing season
started late and was relatively wet but
offered great weather for flowering, setting
small clusters but a large overall crop.
A gorgeous summer heated dramatically in
June and July, but cooled appreciably in
August to ease into harvest. Late season
cooler temperatures moderated our alcohols,
preserved our acidity and presented a balanced
wine with terrific accessibility.
 THE
WINE
•
Picked on October 7, 2006 in the early morning
fog into shallow containers. Meticulously
hand-sorted in the Vineyard under winemaker
supervision to ensure only the highest quality
fruit was retained. Transported at 40°F
and vinified at our Winery in Lompoc.
• 100%
de-stemmed and given a 4-day cold soak to
maximize spice and mid-palate expression.
• Aged
15 months in French oak selected for its
tight grain and elegant intermingling with
the wine. 35% new oak is just enough to
under-shadow the smoky, tobacco nuances
of the terroir.
• Bright
with raspberry, cherry and cedar aromas.
A 4-barrel bottling selected for its concentration
and good potential for aging.
• 98
cases ONLY produced.
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