WESTERLY VINEYARDS
2001 W
Santa Ynez Valley
Tasting Notes
Our “W” is a Bordeaux-style blend of Cabernet Franc and Merlot, two varietals that bring synergistic qualities to the wine. The Cabernet Franc component is tannic and earthy, while the Merlot component fills out the palate with smooth, rounded fruit. True to form, our 2001 “W” boasts a bouquet of cassis and plum with accents of dusty earth and spicy oak. Flavors of dark red fruits and spicy wood notes lead to an impressive finish, with firm tannins that will reward careful cellaring.
Winemaking
The grapes were hand picked from a plateau in our estate vineyard, where ancient, shallow soils and consistent sun exposure combine to produce low yields of intensely flavorful fruit. The grapes were destemmed into small open-top fermenters and punched down manually three times per day. The wine was pressed at dryness, then racked to French oak barrels for aging.
Varietal Composition
Cabernet Franc 60%
Merlot 40%
Vineyard
Westerly Estate
Brix at Harvest
24.8
Aging Method
18 months
French oak barrels (35% new)
Final Analysis
pH 3.67
TA .59
Alc. 14.9%
Cases Produced
253
Suggested Retail
$32/bottle
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