Style

The 2017 Claret boxes above its weight class with an inviting entry that is warm and generous. It is medium to full bodied with a cocoa, expresso bean finish Aromas and flavors include dried red fruits, anise and potter’s clay.

Food pairings

This is a very food versatile wine. Bistro fare works well from Beef Burgundy to Cassoulet.

Vineyards

• Hardscrabble Vineyard (60%), Fauquier Co. on top of the Blue Ridge at 1,300 to 1,400 feet with an eastern to southern slope. Well-drained mineral soils give good tannin structure. Vines planted in the early 2000s. VSP training systems and high density spacing.

• Boisseau Vineyard (25%), Warren Co. is located on a bluff above Front Royal in the Shenandoah Valley at an elevation of 600 feet. The vineyard is west facing on light, deep, well drained loam soils. The vines were planted in 2000 and are trained on cordon/VSP trellising. Contributes mid palate volume and fruit.

• Avenius Vineyard (15%), Warren Co. is just 1 mile north of Linden Vineyards at 1,300 feet contributes acidity and verve. Vines planted in 1998 and 1999.

Vintage

Flowering began a week early under fair skies. Fruit set was above average for most varieties. The rest of June and all of July was very dry. Shoot growth was less than normal with very little hedging needed. Young vines and less water retentive soils showed drought stress. 

We needed rain, but not the 3.5 inches that fell over a few hours on August 11. Although we saw some berry swelling, the vines did not restart vegetative growth. The rest of August was uneventful allowing clusters to lose some compactness.

A forecast can sometimes become confused with reality. The beginning of harvest is best remembered by the threats of Harvey, Irma, Maria, and Jose. They were no shows, with little affect on quality. But the rains never happened. September was warm and dry setting the stage for one of the best red grape harvests in the 30 years of Linden’s history. Reds came in with balanced sugar, flavor, acid and skin tannins. The only potential downside was slightly under-ripe seeds, but we did not taste any green tannins during fermentation. 2017 reds are powerful and ripe, but have freshness rather than heaviness. These will be wines to age. Harvest was September 27 through October 4, 2017.

Winemaking

Grapes were triple sorted, destemmed and lightly crushed. Fermented warm with gentle pump-overs early and then punch downs once the cap formed. Pressing took place after about 18 to 20 days, after dryness. The wine was aged for 21 months in older French oak barrels. Unfined. 46% Merlot, 33% Cabernet Franc, 16% Cabernet Sauvignon, and 5% Petit Verdot. 2,986 bottles produced. Alcohol 13.6%. Drink now through 2027.

Linden Vineyards / Our Wines / 2017 Vintage | 2017 Claret