2018
SPRING
FROM THE WINEMAKER
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Of HAT
MAKES THE WINES AT BACIGALUPI VINEYARDS DISTINCTIVE?
the millions, dare we say billions of wines available in the marketplace worldwide, what makes the individual wine special? By now you have probably heard the saying “great wines are made in the vineyard.” While that is absolutely true, it is also true that once these premium grapes arrive at the winery the decisions that are made by the winemaker can make or break a wine. With the new vintage of wine safely in the barrel, we thought we would take this opportunity to break down some of our unique winemaking practices. Besides the terroir of the vineyard source, what else makes a wine special? Technology has come a long way when it comes to making high end wines. Optical sorting machines, custom curated yeast strains, and lab equipment that would rival any college chemistry lab are just a few of the tools winemakers have at their disposal. A winemaker’s barrel choice can also have a major impact on the style and quality of the wine. There are hundreds of cooperages and brands of barrels, many types of wood that can be used, and different toasts and grains. So of all the different ways you can make wine, how do the decisions we make for our own wines set them apart? Our winemaker, Ashley Herzberg implements several techniques that we feel are important in the style that has become our wines.
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“Our main focus at Bacigalupi is to let our vineyards and each individual vintage shine through in our finished wines. For this reason, some of our winemaking decisions are slightly different than most wineries.” The first of those being native fermentation. Native (wild, indigenous, natural, ambient or spontaneous) yeast populations exist in the air and on the skins of grapes. Each individual vineyard and winery creates its own custom yeast population which then ferments the wine, as opposed to a cultured yeast strain which is usually produced in a lab. The biggest benefit of wild yeast is complexity—some aromas, flavors and, in particular, textures are unique to this method. But natural fermentations are riskier, slower and can be unpredictable. We feel this risk is worth the reward and really helps to add layers and depth to our wines, particularly in the Chardonnay. Another practice we implement is toward the final stage in bottling our wines unfined and unfiltered. An unfiltered wine is essentially a wine that has not been filtered. Before bottling and after barrel aging, wine is gently filtered through a specialty mesh filter. This removes any small particles or solids from the wine which can collect during fermentation. The filtering of wine just ensures that those particles are removed, leaving the wine
clear without any sediment at the bottom of the bottle. Filtering is largely considered a cosmetic process and not necessary. It can often be harsh to the wine and strip some of the fine characteristics, which is why we choose to not filter our wines. What is an unfined wine? Well to understand what unfined wine is, we must first understand what fining is. Fining is a process by which winemakers add fining agents to wine to remove small solids and improve the clarity of the wine. These fining agents can include gelatins, egg whites and skim milk. Fining agents work by attracting or absorbing small particles in the wine. Those particles fall to the bottom, leaving a clearer wine. These wines are generally billed as natural or organic wines, an added bonus in selecting this method. Understanding the process of winemaking can often be intimidating to the average wine drinker. There is a lot of terminology used (terroir, malolactic fermentation, lees, racking, brix, just to name a few) and it can seem overwhelming to understand even the basics. So when planning your next trip to wine country, in addition to the list of wineries that you want to visit, write down a few things that you would like to learn about each place as well. Taking that extra time to learn about the individual winery’s winemaking methodology will only help to encourage one’s love and appreciation of the artistry of wine.
ORDER ONLINE OR BY PHONE AT 707-473-0115
2017 Rosé 160 cases
of Pinot Noir
TASTING NOTES Always a favorite for spring and summer sipping, this Rosé is a saignée (bleeding) of our Pinot Noir wines. Aromas of violets, allspice, orange blossom and juicy watermelon are deeply layered on the nose. The palate is fruit driven on the front with delicate tannins and a rich textural mouthfeel. The wine finishes with a cleansing acidity.
2016 Chardonnay 100% Wente Clone 300 cases
TASTING NOTES Our 2016 Chardonnay starts out with aromas of white peach, honeysuckle, crème brûlée and jasmine. On the palate, apple pie, melon and stone fruit flavors linger on the tongue. The mid-palate is full and rich, with a touch of minerality. This wine has a prolonged finish and is lifted with a refreshing burst of acidity.
2016 Vintage Notes 2016 was another amazing vintage in the Russian River Valley. The earlier part of the year we experienced an increase in precipitation and saw a movement toward more normal conditions in the vineyard. However, generally speaking 2016 was a dry year which resulted in another early harvest. The words that come to mind when tasting through the 2016 wines are “bright” and “opulent.” There is an incredible purity and a freshness that we see as consistent with the wines we strive to produce. All of the 2016 wines were bottled unfined and unfiltered with minimal outside intervention. Although incredibly delicious this is one of our smallest Pinot vintages to date, so we invite you to savor every last drop of these wines.
2016 & 2017 RELEASES
2016 Pinot Noir | Russian River Valley 57% Wente Clone, 43% Pommard Clone 162 cases
TASTING NOTES The Pinot Noir is a blend of Pommard and Wente clones from our Goddard and Frost Ranches. This wine really expresses the overall beauty of the 2016 vintage with aromas of cherries, brambly berries, sweet spice and a hint of sandalwood deeply layered on the nose. The palate is fruit driven on the front with delicate tannins, mouthfeel and texture coupled with a faint acidity.
2016 Frost
Ranch | Pinot Noir
100% Pommard Clone 90 cases
TASTING NOTES Always one of our winemaker’s favorite Pinot Noirs, this year is no exception. The explosive dark brooding characteristics of the Pommard clone stretches through the depths of the bouquet. The palate is full of earthy undertones mixed with crushed pomegranates and cola. The palate is big and bold with integrated tannins, toasted spice and ripe, full flavors. This is a wine to lay down in the cellar for a few years.
2016 Goddard 100% Wente Clone 90 cases
Ranch | Pinot Noir
TASTING NOTES This Pinot Noir is from the warmest part of our vineyards and displays floral aromas joined by forest floor and opulent lavender on the nose. Layered into the wine are wild blackberries, black cherry, and ripe currant cassis mixed with baking spices and a hint of vanillin. The palate is rich and juicy with firm and silky tannins. The finish has a bright acidity and the fruit characters continue to linger long after each sip.
EVENTS
2018
We have many exciting events coming up for 2018. Save the date now so you don’t miss out on all the fun. Tickets are available for purchase on our website.
Pinot & Paella Saturday | April 28th | Two Seatings: 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. | 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. This event is back by popular demand! Fresh made seafood paella will be paired with our new releases: 2017 Rosé of Pinot Noir, 2016 Chardonnay, 2016 Pinot Noir and our two single ranches the 2016 Goddard Ranch Pinot Noir and 2016 Frost Ranch Pinot Noir. These wines are in extremely limited supply this year, so attend this event for your chance to sample and purchase. Ticket price is $35 for members (two at this price) and $50 for guests. *Reservation only
7th Annual Vineyard Designate Tasting Saturday | July 14th | 4:00 - 7:00 p.m. We are now in our 7th year of hosting this event! Participate in a very special and limited tasting featuring wines produced exclusively from Bacigalupi Vineyards. Each winery attending creates wines that excel in representing our vineyards’ terroir. Enjoy a varietal food pairing and live music. Silent auction to benefit a local community organization. Commemorative logo glass included. This event is limited to 100 guests and will sell out! Ticket price is $105 for members (two at this price) and $125 for guests.
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S TAY W I T H U S
We are excited to share
that we are now accepting reservations for our Hilltop House. Located 10 minutes (via car) from downtown Healdsburg, this spacious cottage provides the ultimate wine country retreat. Nestled in the vineyards, this two bedroom, two bathroom home accommodates 4-5 guests and is complete with a hot tub and panoramic estate views. Additional amenities include a washer and dryer, fully equipped BBQ, brand new appliances and fireplace.
For complete information including rates and availability, email us at tastingroom@bacigalupivineyards.com
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R U S S I A N R I V E R VA L L E Y
BACIGALUPI VINEYARDS.COM 4375 WESTSIDE ROAD | HEALDSBURG, CA 95448 OFFICE PHONE/FAX 707-473-0115