Success – what it means for us

Over a conversation filled with lots of wine, I mentioned that we got our 08 Isabel’s Cuvee Grenache Gris Rose right. Our companion asked what that meant which caused me to pause and think about it. It means a few things:

• We picked at the right moment for our desired outcome – ripe but not to ripe.
• We managed the light smoke taint – taking the wine of the gross lees before barreling down.
• We knew how to provide the right environment for the wine to develop in without intervention. Barrels kept at around 70 degrees. Lees stirred only a few times.
• The wine, the yeast and the bacteria did their part in barrel.

I think the result are spectacular. It always amazes me how grapes and a little SO2 can make such a wonderful product.