Undercurrent File #:07MSB082208-01
Varietal Composition: 52% Muscat / 48% Sauvignon Blanc
Bottled:Bottled September 22nd, 2008. cases.
Unit Size:500mL
Drinkability: Drink or Hold [As of Apr. 09]

•    Muscat fruit from a tiny planting of Muscat d’Alsace (0.69 acres) at the Butler’s Grant Vineyard; Sauvignon Blanc from Creekside’s estate vineyard ‘Short Rows’ block

•    Light pressing of Muscat to preserve delicate aromatics produced 120L, too small to fill a barrel

•    Four days later “Short Rows” Sauvignon Blanc was harvested at Creekside and a plan was hatched to try co-fermentation and top the half-full barrel
•    The Muscat juice was racked into a seven year old French oak barrel; barrel was then topped up using the Creekside “Short Rows” Sauv Blanc.  Barrel was inoculated with VL1 yeast, known to act on bound terpenes, an aromatic family of compounds found in relatively high concentrations in Muscat.

•    Co-fermentation seemed to allow for weird and wonderful integration patterns between the neutral oak barrel (for structure and complexity) the yeast, and the 2 varieties. This blend is currently considered unrepeatable because of these factors combined with unusual extreme ripeness of the ’07 vintage.

•    Aged 10 months on original ferment lees with no lees stirring

•    Muscat can have an extremely potent, potentially overwhelming aromatic pungency; the more acidic, grassy character of the Sauv Blanc seems to have both tempered the Muscat, and complemented it to create a fragrant nose and very cool palate structure.