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2005 Io Rhone Blend, Santa Barbara County$48.00 - Purchase Online today or call (805) 934-4770 Winemaker's Notes"Like the strong-willed princess from Greek mythology for whom the wine is named, Io is beautifully expressive and sensuous, combining Syrah, Grenache, and Mourvèdre from Santa Barbara County vineyards. The 2005 Io is concentrated, complex, and exceptionally well balanced on all levels. Aromas of strawberry, blackberry pie, dark plum and earth are accented by white pepper, brown spice and toasty smoke. The mature fruit flavors and rich concentration are framed by silky, rounded tannins and a supporting thread of natural acidity, making the 2005 Io a superb accompaniment to a wine array of full-flavored dishes. The wine offers a remarkable length on the palate that continues through its opulent, resonating finish." - Jonathan Nagy, Winemaker Appellation and VineyardThe fruit for the 2005 Io was harvested exclusively from the Nielson Vineyard, located in Santa Maria Valley, featuring vines planted to the esteemed Estrella clonal selection of Syrah, some of which exceed 25 years of age. Fruit from this cool vineyard contributes concentration, richness, and dark fruit qualities to Io, reminiscent of wines from the Northern Rhône Valley. Fermentation & Aging Io is a handcrafted wine made in limited production using Australian-inspired winemaking techniques adapted to the specific nature of our Santa Barbara County fruit. Grapes were crushed into temperature-controlled fermenters where a small amount of juice was drawn off, a technique known as a saignée, used to enhance concentration. The grapes received a cold soak of four to five days before beginning fermentation. When fermentation began, a combination of punch-down and pump-overs was performed to circulate the skins and juice. During the four most active days of fermentation, the cellar team implemented "rack and return" on each tank twice daily for additional extraction and concentration. Statistics Varietal blend: 92% Syrah, 5% Mourvèdre, 3% Grenache Grape sourcing: 100% Nielson Vineyard Wine analysis: 0.65% total acidity; 3.67 pH; residual sugar (dry); 14.5% alcohol by volume Cases produced: 1,682 (9 liter cases) Bottling date: January, 2007 |
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