Undercurrent File #: 07GEW082208-02
Appellation: VQA Twenty Mile Bench (appellation information)
Varietal Composition: 100% Gewurztraminer
Bottled:Bottled September 22nd, 2008. 37 cases.
Unit Size:750mL
Drinkability: Drink or Hold [As of Apr. 09]

• Old vines Gewürztraminer from Butler’s Grant Vineyard; harvested October 4th, 2007.

• Extended skin contact post-crushing with several hours of maceration for higher extraction of flavour and aroma compounds from the skins

• Juice racked to two six-year old French oak barrels, an old world method for fermenting aromatic whites. Neutral wood adds complexity and texture through barrel ferment and aging, without imparting oaky character

• One barrel was permitted to undergo “wild” fermentation, using indigenous yeast, a practice generally understood to create added complexity and a little “funk”. The 2nd barrel was inoculated with VL1, known to liberate bound terpenes, an aromatic family of compounds found in relatively high levels in Gewürztraminer. The aim was to increase aromatic and flavour profile intensity and emphasize varietal character.

• Fermentation was halted based on sensory evaluation of acid/sugar/flavour balance. Fermentation of inoculated barrel was 12 days, the wild barrel was 24 days. Wine aged on original ferment lees for 10 months with no lees stirring.