Primitivo 2014
Regular price $35.00
Unit price per
Silver Medal winner, Amador County Wine Competition
25 cases produced
Planted in 2003 on deep growing and drought tolerant special rootstock, our Primitivo grows on a steep hillside at a 2,000-foot altitude in Amador County’s Shenandoah Valley of the Sierra footgills. It thrives in warm daytime breezes from the Central Valley and cool Sierra evenings, a 30 degree swing in temperature.
Winemaker Notes
The 2014 season was characterized by drought conditions in California, with rains coming later in the season. While this created some stress on the grapes, we believe it forced them to dig deep for water and to best express their Sierra Gold Country terroir, making for exceptional flavor. Harvest came three weeks earlier than usual but right on target at 25.5 Brix and 3.8 pH. After crushing the grapes we removed the stems to minimize tannins, fermented and punched down the wine manually over two weeks, and then gently bladder-pressed into American medium toasted oak. Secondary malolactic fermentation was done over six months during the winter and the wine was aged for 2 years prior to bottling.
Light on tannins, it dances on your tongue with characteristics of plum, dried cherries, black pepper, vanilla and licorice. Due to its light tannins, it pairs well with anything tomato based, such as spaghetti Bolognese, veal parmigiana, chicken cacciatore. It is also great with earthy vegetables like mushrooms, onion and eggplant, or dry and firm cheeses.