ORIGIN: Renegade Ridge Estate is a twelve acre vineyard contiguous to our Archery Summit Estate in the Dundee Hills and has been biodynamically farmed since March 2004. Soils are basaltic Jory and the vines are planted between 400 and 500 feet in elevation. On this our only predominately east facing slope, Dijon clones are matched to select rootstocks and exhibit pronounced aromas, bright flavors and elegant texture.

VINEYARD: The grapes for the 2005 Renegade Ridge Estate were hand harvested between September 29th and October 13th 2005 from five separate blocks containing Dijon clones 114, 777 and 667 and Pommard clone. Cool weather and extremely low yields during the 2005 harvest contribute to the purity of fruit and balance in this compelling and elegant wine.

WINEMAKING: The grapes were hand picked, hand sorted and fermented in both wooden and stainless steel open top fermentors using an average of 9% whole clusters. The fruit was soaked cold for 8 days then fermented entirely by indigenous yeasts under temperature controlled conditions. Vats were punched down manually one to three times per day during fermentation then let to soak for additional post fermentation maceration. After twenty five days in tank, the wine was sent to 65% new French oak Francois Freres, Sirugue, Rousseau and Sylvain barrels for aging and remained there for ten months prior to bottling. The 2005 Renegade Ridge Estate was bottled on December 18th and 19th, 2006 without fining or filtration.

TASTING NOTES: This wine opens with lifted aromas of red currant, violets, mountain huckleberry and spiced plums. There is a vibrant freshness matched with an earthy minerality that lends interest to this contained and focused wine. The tannins are supple and palate balanced, elegant and long. Notes of exotic wood spice and fresh berry flavors linger on the finish. This wine is ready for enjoyment now, however may improve with proper cellaring over the next five to eight years.

PRODUCTION: The 2005 vintage produced 1,386 six bottle cases, 120 magnums and 30 3.0L bottles.

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