2002 Avenius Red
Palate
Cherry, black currant; mouth coating texture with assertive tannins and acidity.
Aromas
Cassis, plum, mineral and dark fruit.
Food Pairings
Lamb, game, and stews with lots of rosemary.
Vineyard
Avenius Vineyard is owned and operated by Shari Avenius who is also Linden Vineyard’s director. It is located on the Blue Ridge one half mile north of Linden Vineyards at an elevation of 1,300 feet on a steep east facing slope. Soils are well drained, rocky, greenstone and granite. These 5-year-old vines are trained on the French lyre and Geneva double curtain trellising system.
Vintage
The quality of the growing season was as close to perfect as we could ask for. A typical Virginia summer…enough rain when we needed it; hot, but cool at night. Fall was spectacular with almost no rain and warm sunny days and cool nights. Harvest October 10 and 31, 2001.
Winemaking
80% Petit Verdot and 20% Cabernet Sauvignon. Petit Verdot was destemmed and very lightly crushed. Cabernet was also destemmed and crushed to a greater degree in order to extract more tannins. Both cold soaked for several days before fermenting in one ton open top containers. The cap was punched down two times per day. Fermentation temperatures peaked at 90°F. The wines are pressed off of their skins just prior to dryness. Petit Verdot aged in Virginia oak for 14 months, Cabernet in French oak. Unfined and unfiltered. 114 cases bottled. Anticipated maturity 2006 to 2012.
Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2002 Vintage | 2002 Avenius Red