This is Linden’s first blended Late Harvest wine. 70% Petit Manseng and 30% Vidal Blanc.

Style

This wine shows the classic Petit Manseng tropical and exotic aroma and flavor profiles: pungent pineapple, dried apricot, and guava. Vidal tones down the acidity and give spice and richness to the mid-palate.

Food Pairings

Salty gathering appetizers. Rich, decadent main courses such as foie gras or desserts that feature fruits, especially apricots, peaches, pears or dried fruits. Very ripe triple cream cheeses and sheep cheeses from the Pyrenees and Virginia.

Vineyard

Hardscrabble Vineyard (100%), Fauquier County, on top of the Blue Ridge at an elevation of 1300 feet. The Late Harvest blocks are planted on a northeastern slope. Deep, well-drained granitic soils. Petit Manseng was planted in 2002. The Vidal block dedicated to Late Harvest is on a rocky slope and was planted in 1985. Wine yield was 20hl/H .

Vintage

Spring was wet. Wet spells continued into July and we were bracing ourselves for a possible negative impact on wine quality. The rains stopped in mid-July, but shoot growth continued into early August which is later than ideal. With a very dry August, vine growth stopped and vines were in good balance going into harvest.

September gave us ideal conditions for ripening. Threats of rain never came to fruition. Cool, dry nights helped retain acidity and aromatics. September and October were cool and dry until some late October rains started. Harvest was November 3, 2015.

Winemaking

70% Petit Manseng and 30% Vidal. A field blend. The grapes are frozen and pressed while frozen. Only the first thawed juice is used (AKA ice-wine). The wine fermented slowly in old French oak and was stopped by chilling (putting the barrels outside in February) to retain fruit and sweetness. This wine will become more honeyed and spicier with age. Residual sugar is 107 grams per liter (10.7%). Alcohol is 14.2%. Bottled in August 2017. 2,380 bottles (375 ml) produced.

Drink 2021 through 2030.

Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2015 Vintage | 2015 Linden Late Harvest