24 PARALLEL VOICING

Montgomery, Shenandoah, and Highland Counties

Ancestral Method

ARTWORK:

  • Watercolor and oil pastel collage alluding to the two fruits

  • The back label incorrectly states “Traditional Method” when this is “Ancestral Method.” Those responsible have been sacked.

FRUIT:

  • 42% young heirloom apples from New Legacy Orchard on Pilot Mountain in Montgomery County. Channery loam of weathered limestone, shale, and sandstone, 2400-2600’. Grower Craig Winslow practices organic management and is experimenting with a no copper spray program.

  • 32% chardonel from M&R Vineyard in Shenandoah County. Silt and clay loams of weathered limestone, 1100’. Juan Carlos Mansilla and David Rourke, growers. We are working with them to limit intrusions in the vineyard, stopping herbicides and reducing spray applications. 

  • 26% foraged seedling apples from high limestone ridges selected for their acidity and softer tannin.

SEASON:

  • The second drought growing season in a row pushed ripening several weeks early. Good thing, because multiple hurricanes would otherwise have washed out the fruit. Thick skins and good concentration in apples and grapes.

FERMENTATION/DEVELOPMENT:

  • A continuous fermentation carried through harvest: We bled off a portion of the fermenting chardonel we foot-stomped for ‘Pastiche’ to co-ferment with foraged seedling apples in a poly tank. Craig’s heirlooms and additional seedlings were briefly macerated and pressed into the tank as they were harvested. The full blend finished in bottle in late October.

  • Bottles aged on lees for a minimum of 5 months before being riddled and disgorged by hand. No SO2 additions were made.

LAB:

  • pH: 3.69 | ABV: 9.4% | TA: 5.9 g/L | Added SO2: 0 ppm