2005 Seghesio Family Vineyards Sangiovese Alexander Valley California
Name:
Seghesio Family Vineyards Sangiovese Alexander Valley California - 2005
Where it's from:
>USA
>California
>Alexander Valley
Price per case:
£261.23
Bottle size:
75 cl
Bottles per case:
12
Style:
Powerful Reds
Grapes:
Sangiovese
Description:
100% Sangiovese, the fruit for this wine comes from two of the estate vineyards - Home Ranch and Rattlesnake Hill in Alexander Valley. Aggressive hand canopy management was maintained on the vineyards and both a green harvest and veraison thinning were performed to ensure even ripening and to keep crop loads low.
Deeply blue-hued, small-berried clusters were hand harvested and gently destemmed into Seghesio's small symmetrical fermenters. The methods of extraction during the warm macerations were varied with the intent of eliciting Sangio's sleek, dark berry-boysenberry essence, innate violet perfume, and supple texture. Longer barrel ageing in tightly grained French oak barrels contributed breadth, scents of spicy anise, and persistence. Sangiovese's sublime nature and proportional acid/tannin balance make this well made red a wine to savour.
The Seghesio Story begins in 1886 when Edoardo Seghesio departed his family's vineyards in Piedmonte, Italy for a new life in America. Like so many immigrants, he was drawn to Northern Sonoma County and the Italian Swiss Colony, to follow his passion for winemaking. The "colony," as it was known, hired immigrants for three year stints, providing room and board and then, a lump sum at the end of those three years enabling employees to buy land or set up a business in their new home.
Soon, Edoardo rose through the ranks to winemaker. Yet, he yearned for home. The Colony's manager repeatedly encouraged him to stay and finally, it was his niece and the opportunity to purchase land that convinced Edoardo to remain. That young girl, Angela Vasconi and Edoardo were married in 1893. In 1895, they purchased a modest home in northern Alexander Valley, less for the home than the surrounding 56 acres Edoardo recognized as ideal vineyard land. They planted the "Home Ranch" that year to what has become the family's lifeline - Zinfandel. Today his grandchildren share his passion as they farm over 80 hectares of Zinfandel in Alexander and Dry Creek Valley.
