Style

The Avenius Red 2017 exhibits distinct dark bramble fruit aromas with some balsam and pine tar lift. The wine is medium bodied and concentrated, but not heavy with fresh acidity and firm tannins that persist. There is a harmony of the elements that is uncommon is such a youthful wine.

Vineyard

Avenius Vineyard (100%), Warren Co. is just 1 mile north of Linden Vineyards at 1,300 feet elevation with an eastern slope. Soils are primarily greenstone. Cabernet Sauvignon was planted in 1998. Merlot was planted in 2007 and 2012. This cool site retains red fruit character and a strong acidity that rewards aging.

Vintage

Flowering began a week early under fair skies. Fruit set was above average for most varieties. The rest of June and all of July was very dry. Shoot growth was less than normal with very little hedging needed. Young vines and less water retentive soils showed drought stress.

We needed rain, but not the 3.5 inches that fell over a few hours on August 11. Although we saw some berry swelling, the vines did not restart vegetative growth. The rest of August was uneventful allowing clusters to lose some compactness.

A forecast can sometimes become confused with reality. The beginning of harvest is best remembered by the threats of Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Jose. They were no shows, with little affect on quality. But the rains never happened. September was warm and dry setting the stage for one of the best red grape harvests in the 30 years of Linden’s history. Reds came in with balanced sugar, flavor, acid and skin tannins. The only potential downside was slightly under-ripe seeds, but we did not taste any green tannins during fermentation. 2017 reds are powerful and ripe, but have freshness rather than heaviness. These will be wines to age. Harvest was September 27 through October 4, 2017.

Winemaking

Sorted and destemmed. Fermented warm with gentle pump-overs early and then punch downs once the cap formed. Pressing took place after about 20 to 28 days. The wine was aged for 21 months in once used French oak barrels (Merlot) and new oak for the Cabernet Sauvignon. Unfined. 54% Merlot and 46% Cabernet Sauvignon. 1,774 bottles produced. Alcohol 13.8%. Drink now through 2029.

Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2017 Vintage | 2017 Avenius Red