2018 Earth Cuckoo
;)
;)
Wine Specs
Vintage
2018
Varietal
Blend - red
Appellation
Willcox
Harvest Date
August and September
Acid
TA: 5.8 g/L
pH
3.87
Aging
Aged 13 months in 25% new Hungarian (Vallaurine Cooperage) and 75% neutral oak barrels. Aged another 5 months in 100% neutral oak barrels. Thrice racked. Filtered, but unfined.
Alcohol %
14.3
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
For the past five vintages, we’ve selected the first cut of each lot for this special wine.
We first choose two and a half of our best Tempranillo barrels as the dark, rich core of
the blend. We then set aside our favorite barrel of Grenache for its light, strawberry fruit. Lastly, we steal half (30 gallons) of the best Graciano barrel for acidity, spicy plum/
watermelon character and fine tannins. We then age the blend for 16-18 months
while giving it just a touch of newer European oak. An homage to the wines of
Rioja (with a fair amount of poetic license!).
Vineyard Notes
Willcox AVA - 63% Tempranillo from Cimarron Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elevation. Harvested Aug. 6th & 8th - 25% Grenache from Sierra Bonita Vineyard. Graham County, AZ. 4,400 ft. elevation. Harvested Sept. 25th - 12% Graciano from Cimarron Vineyard. Cochise County, AZ. 4,300 ft. elevation. Harvested Aug. 30th - Sugar at harvest: 24.7 Brix average.
Production Notes
Destemmed but not crushed to open-top, ¾- and 1.5-ton bins.
All lots were left ~10-20% whole-cluster. Inoculated with specially selected yeasts
(CLOS, T73, VRB, D254 & D80). Hand punched 3-4 times daily.
Inoculated with Malolactic bacteria (Omega) around 5 Brix average.
Pressed at dryness after 10 days average skin contact.
Settled 2 days average before barreling.
Production
98 cases
Other Notes
Drink now or cellar 6+ years