’06 Bei Ranch
Cabernet Sauvignon
Bei Ranch is a spectacular vineyard site, located on a 1600’ ridgeline west of Cazadero on the Sonoma Coastal Range. At a mere 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean, we believe it to be the closest Cabernet planting to the Pacific in all of Northern California. While this part of the Sonoma Coast AVA is known as a cold Region I Pinot Noir and Chardonnay producing area, Bei Ranch’s high altitude locates it well above the summer fog line, exposing the fruit to greater radiant energy and allowing for full development. The rocky soil, in combination with constant exposure to both sun and wind, yields concentrated fruit with thick skins and large seeds.
’06 Clajeux Vineyard
Cabernet Sauvignon
This steep, rocky vineyard is located in the Chalk Hill appellation near the western border of the Mayacamas Range and the Russian River Valley. The southwest facing slope retains moderately low morning temperatures from the summer fogs that stream in from the valley below. We obtain fruit from two distinct blocks within this 7 acre vineyard: the upper block planted to clone 337 which has an enhanced mineral and earth component, and from the steep, terraced lower block planted to Clone 7 which advances a more fruit forward profile.
’06 Mountain Terraces
Cabernet Sauvignon
From the southwestern flank of Mt. Veeder, just west of the Bismark Knob, this vineyard’s terraced rows drop precipitously from their upper extreme at over 1700’ elevation to their base of 850’. Located at the southern end of the Mayacamas Range, otherwise high mid-season daytime heat is tempered by the proximity to the San Pablo Bay as well as steady breezes from the Petaluma wind gap. This very steep vineyard’s Cabernet fruit is grown in two distinct blocks: Phase-2 fruit grown in rhyolitic soils (white ash) provides bright red fruit, substantial tannic structure and a higher acidity. Phase-3 grapes are grown in basalt soil (red lava) and produce small, dark concentrated berries with an enhanced mineral quality.
’08 Demuth Vineyard
Chardonnay
This breathtaking vineyard site is located at 1600’ elevation on the eastern side of the Anderson Valley overlooking the town of Boonville. The high altitude and modest day to night temperature fluctuations can delay harvest here by 3-4 weeks over vineyards on the valley floor. Soil composition is 18” of clay over layers of fractured shale. Chris and Eric Demuth planted the vineyard in 1982 to the original Wente clone. The grapes for this Chardonnay were produced from these same +25 year old vines.
’09 Sonoma Coast
Rosé
Produced from a blend of hillside and mountain vineyards, this 70% Syrah and 30% Cabernet Sauvignon based Rosé was fermented in stainless steel tanks on native yeasts. Secondary fermentation was halted at 50% to retain brighter acidity. The wine was bottled in early April 2010 with no oak component whatsoever, allowing a pure expression of the fruit.
Past releases:
2005 Clajeux Vineyard Cab. Sauv.
2007 Demuth Vineyard Chardonnay
2007 Bei Ranch Syrah
2008 Sonoma Coast Rosé
Future/upcoming releases:
2007 Mountain Terraces Cab. Sauv. — September 2010
2008 Bei Ranch Syrah — Fall 2010
2009 Sonoma Coast Rosé — May 2010