2008 Sauvignon Blanc, Signaterra Parcel Seven
- AVA: Russian River Valley
- Barrels Produced: 9
- Bottled: March 2009
Melodic. Insightful. Pure.
Our Parcel Seven Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley is a signature wine. The individuality of the vineyard, the fingerprint of the vintage and the acumen of the winemaker are joined in each bottle. Expressing the marks of these three forces — earth, nature, and man — is fundamental to our mission, our philosophy and the wine we call Signaterra.
Winemaker Notes:
Earth | At the southeastern end of the Russian River Valley, a zip code chock-full of prestigious vineyards, the Shone Farm site is ideal for growing Sauvignon Blanc. Parcel Seven’s two acres have those low pH soils so important to the acid development of Sauvignon Blanc grapes. Pleasanton Rocky Loam soil help ripen the fruit flavors while maintaining the acid needed for a well balanced wine. Parcel Seven is farmed using Stellar-certified sustainable grape growing methods.
Nature | In this vineyard, we work closely with the powers of sun and wind. As a grape cluster develops, it’s shielded from direct sun by the shade of a grape leaf or two above it, avoiding direct sun exposure, so the temperature of the surrounding air gently encourages cluster development and gentle ripening. Here, the wind is a critical component aiding grape and vine health. We use the trellising system to encourage a wind tunnel-like space at the center of the vine. This keeps fresh, healing air moving through the plant, even in the heart of summer.
Man | Grapes were hand harvested at night to keep the flavors bright and fresh. The juice was whole-cluster pressed using a Champagne-style press that encourages free run, clean juice. It was tank-settled at low temperatures, racked clean to fermentation tanks, then fermented slowly with native yeasts from the vineyard. The Sauvignon Blanc sat on the lees for four and a half months to impart a rich mouthfeel. These methods reveal a brighter, more elegant wine with fewer particles in suspension.
Biodynamics
The highest form of organic farming, Biodynamics takes a holistic view of the farm as a living organism. Homeopathic applications enhance soil vitality, biodiversity helps balance the ecosystem and a closed nutrient system allows a site to develop true terrioir. 3rd party certified by the Demeter Assoication.
Biodynamics at BenzigerOrganics
Organic grape growing avoids the use of synthetic chemicals and uses natural methods like crop rotation, tillage and natural composts to maintain soil health as well as natural methods to control weeds, insects and other pests.
Certified Sustainable
Benziger’s third-party certified-sustainable program is one of the most comprehensive of any single winery in the country. The program, which emphasizes environmentally sound growing methods, such as biodiversity, soil revitalization and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is the first step in transitioning a vineyard from conventional to organic.
Certified Sustainablewines at Benziger
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