Calstar Cellars
  • Home
  • Our Story
  • The Wines
    • 2019 Rose Russian River Valley
    • 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
    • 2017 Chardonnay, Cuvee Ann
    • 2016 Chardonnay, Bennett Valley
    • 2018 Pinot Meunier, Christina's Vineyard
    • 2017 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
    • 2016 Pinot Noir, Russian RIver Valley
    • 2015 Pinot Noir, Oppenlander Vineyard
    • 2013 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyards
    • 2017 ZaZa Zin
    • 2018 Alta Zin
  • Join the Star Club
  • News & Press
  • Contact Us

Mid-Winter in the Cellar & ZAP!

1/27/2010

0 Comments

 
I am spending more time back at the winery, rather than keeping in touch via the wonders of modern science. This allows for tracking progress through primary and malo-lactic fermentation and allows me know when to sulphur but doesn't necessarily help either manner of topping or adds.  Because those decisions are made based on taste and appearance.  What I mean by manner of topping is if the wine is clean (no surface film), I stir and then top it.  If there is a surface film then I flush the film onto the ground, and repeat this at least one more time.  Adds are also different for me I do all of them after bench trials, and by taste.  “Bench trials” are done by pulling a sample of the wine and making additions in the same ratio that they would be in the whole lot of wine.  Since I don’t like to alter the environment that the yeast or ML bacteria are working (living) in I almost always wait until the completion of all desired fermentations before making adds.

Okay enough about winemaking, you want to know how the wines are showing (tasting).  All the wines are showing well for the stage they’re at in the aging process.  For those that like the ’08 Sauvignon Blanc, the ’09 is looking to be very similar.  The Pinots are developing nicely, with the components of the Sonoma Coast looking like the better vineyards and the vintage is going to lead to a “bigger” Pinot this year. The Chardonnay’s are a little hard to evaluate because they’re racing through ML and are mostly "buttered popcorn" right now, that will eventually change.  The Zins are both doing fine and just need another 6 months to smooth out the rough edges.

Last but not least, we will be pouring at ZAP this weekend (Jan. 30/31), both ‘06s and a preview of the ’07 Alta (down to less than 10 cases of ’06).  If you want to say hello to me personally, head to the table before 1:30 PM as I’ll be leaving early to host a winemaker dinner for Londer Estates, but Shea and Adrian will be there to answer your questions. 

Cheers!
0 Comments

    Author

    Winemaker & Artisan, Rick Davis, started Calstar Cellars in 2001 to marry art and science to his love of wine.  Read Rick's thoughts on all things wine!

    Archives

    October 2015
    May 2011
    June 2010
    May 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009

    Categories

    All
    Bottling
    Harvest
    Process Odds And Ends
    Process Odds Ends
    Spring
    Summer
    Vineyard
    Winter Activity

    RSS Feed

  • Home
  • Our Story
  • The Wines
    • 2019 Rose Russian River Valley
    • 2019 Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County
    • 2017 Chardonnay, Cuvee Ann
    • 2016 Chardonnay, Bennett Valley
    • 2018 Pinot Meunier, Christina's Vineyard
    • 2017 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast
    • 2016 Pinot Noir, Russian RIver Valley
    • 2015 Pinot Noir, Oppenlander Vineyard
    • 2013 Pinot Noir, Sangiacomo Vineyards
    • 2017 ZaZa Zin
    • 2018 Alta Zin
  • Join the Star Club
  • News & Press
  • Contact Us