Ruby Port
2014 Bottling
Estate Grown & Bottled
California,
Shenandoah Valley
Winemaker’s Notes:
Port wines were created in the Duoro region of
Portugal. The name Port, derived from
the city of Porto, acquired a strong identity which is recognized all over the
world. This name has been used in the
United States generically to denote a fortified sweet dessert wine. New regulations enacted recently prohibit the
use of the name Port unless the wine was produced and bottled in Portugal with the
exception of wines bearing that name before these regulations went into
effect. Kelson Creek and its predecessor
Sonora Port Works have been making Port wine and using the Port name on their
labels for over 20 years. Since we
purchased the rights to the Kelson Creek name we are able to continue using the
name Port on our labels.
Port is a fortified sweet wine made by arresting the
fermentation midway through the addition of grape alcohol to a level that the
yeast cannot tolerate. There are
different styles of Port. A Ruby Port is made using a reductive process which
completely excludes oxygen during the brief aging process resulting in a very
fruity tasting sweet wine.
This Ruby Port was made from five authentic Portuguese
varieties which we grow in our Estate vineyards. The major variety is Touriga Nacional. This wine has been aged for 24 months in
neutral oak and bottled. It has a dark
ruby color, a thick consistency and a perfect balance between sweetness
tartness and alcohol level. It has strong
aromas of dark berries which carry to the palate. The sustained finish lingers on leaving
behind clean and intense fruity flavors.
The wine is very drinkable now with the potential of improving with age.
Varietal Content:
Touriga Nacional, Tinta Cao, Tinta
Roriz, Souzao and Alvarelho
Bottling Date: 9/24/2014
Cases Produced: 261 12x500ml
Alcohol Content: 18.0%
