wines
Tribute
75% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Petit Verdot
3% Cabernet Franc, 3% Merlot
Sonoma Mountain Estate
V. 2005
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Technical Information
Tribute, a Bordeaux blend produced from 100% estate grapes grown at the Benziger Family Ranch on Sonoma Mountain, is the first Demeter-certified Biodynamic® wine from Napa and Sonoma counties and one of the first in North America.
Alcohol 14.5%, Total Acidity .63, pH 3.77, 2198 Cases Produced, 98 Barrels |
Biodynamics is the highest form of organic farming in the world. It goes beyond the elimination of chemicals to represent a complete and wholistic system of agriculture that views the farm as a living 1883 London Ranch Road | Glen Ellen, CA www.benziger.com/tribute | (800) 989-8890 organism intimately connected with its environment. The goal of a Biodynamic wine is not perfection, but rather to truly and authentically reflect the variety, vintage, place and passion of the people who make it.
Winemaking
To enhance the vineyard character in Tribute, we fermented the wine with native yeast. The wine went through natural malolactic fermentation in barrels during the winter and spring in our underground caves. We blended the wine and then gave it a solid 20 months in French oak barrels (35 percent of which were new), before bottling Tribute, unfiltered, in July of 2007. |
Vintage
The 2005 vintage started out wet and led into a challenging spring. Early summer was warm, but in August temperatures turned mild and the weather dry, allowing the grapes to hang on the vine well into October. This extended summer produced grapes of incredible intensity, but with the structure and muscle that creates liveliness on the palate. |
Aroma
Diverse, yet complementary aromas include blackberry, nutmeg, plum, black licorice, tar, dark chocolate and a sweet earthiness. |
Mouthfeel
The wine has a rich, but finely textured entry. Its tannins are soft and polished. With each sip, the wine holds the palate in a velvety grip. The finish is long, with lingering soft tannins and acids in complete harmony. |
Biodynamic Certification
Demeter is the third party certifier of traditional Biodynamic practices and the oldest such agency in the United States. Certification, the ultimate guarantee of tradition and purity in the production of agricultural products, is extremely difficult to achieve and must be renewed annually. Only wineries that have achieved the rigorous certification from Demeter can make any reference to Biodynamic practices and the certification will be marked with the Demeter logo. For more information on the certification process, visit demeter-usa.org