2006 LATE HARVEST FRENCH COLOMBARD, SWEET SISTERS

The Wine
This is our first late harvest wine that we have produced. The few rows of French Colombard used to make this wine are located at the Dutton Home Ranch. The grapes, picked in late November, were affected by botrytis and fermented in stainless steel to preserve the fruit. Like rich honey in color, Sweet Sisters has apricot & orange rind on the nose. A medium-bodied wine that remains true to a dessert character, has a balance of sweet citrus. Biscotti, apricot galette or even Foie Gras with a fruit preserve compote, would pair nicely to enhance both the food & the Sweet Sisters Late Harvest..

The Vineyard
Dutton Ranch farms over eighty unique, separate vineyards located in the coolest areas of the Russian River Valley, primarily in the sub-appellation known as the Green Valley. The French Colombard was planted in 1964 which is located at the home Ranch east of the town of Occidental in the Green Valley-Russian River appellation. Sweet sisters is named after Joe & Tracy’s three daughters - Kyndall, Kylie & Karmen Isabella.

The Winemaking
The fruit for our late harvest wine was gently whole cluster pressed. The juice was cold settled, transferred into stainless steel tanks and slowly fermented with cultured yeasts at fifty degrees. The cool temperature fermentation allows us to ferment one brix per day to retain the fresh fruity character of the wine. The wine is fined, filtered and cold stabilized prior to bottling. This wine was bottled at the end of June 2007.

Tech Notes
2006 Sweet Sisters