Idlewild 2019 Dolcetto, Lost Hills Ranch, Yorkville Highlands
Item Number: 18624
UPC: None
Country: USA
Region: California
Sub Region: Mendocino
Appellation/AVA: Yorkville Highlands
Estate Grown Wine: Yes
Vineyard Designation: Lost Hills Ranch
Vintage: 2019
Grape(s): 100% Dolcetto
Type: Wine - Red
Bottle Size: 750 ml
Pack: 12
Closure: Cork
Alc by Vol(%): 12.2
Viticulture: Practicing Organic
Soil Type: Deep fractured sandstone with veins of schist
Elevation: 1,500 ft
Case Production: 328
Vineyard Notes: Lost Hills Ranch sits on a lonely ridge in the Yorkville Highlands. Located near the southwest corner of Mendocino County, the climate is marked by a clash of maritime and continental influence. At 1,500 feet of elevation, the vineyard often looks down on the fog hugging the valley below, or transversely, the cooling winds run along the ridge as the heat sinks on warmer days. The soils are comprised of deep fractured sandstone with veins of schist. The vine roots work hard to push deep into the rock, and in turn, a powerful core can be found in the fruit grown here. Holistic and organic practices ensure a healthy site for now and for future generations to come.
Vintage Notes: 2019 began with a late and wet start. The summer came on slowly without excessive heat, and the fall followed with the same pattern. One slight rain event had us all worried, but then late September and October turned to an second summer of warm days and cool nights which ensured all of the fruit was harvested before the late October fires. In turn, these wines are dense and brooding from their long hang-time but also lithe and energetic due to the overall cool season.
Winemaking Notes: The grapes were brought in and sorted to larger fermenting bins where they were partially foot trodden, and all of the stems were included. This practice lends several things including floral lift, spice, and structure; and, it also leads to a very healthy fermentation. Native yeast and bacteria were responsible for the primary and secondary fermentations. As the wine neared dryness, it was basket pressed and then put down to large format Slovenian oak botti for a year of elevage. Then, a year in bottle completed its aging.
Tasting Notes: The 2019 Dolcetto is a balance of bright and lifted aromatics against a taut and lithe structure. The elevage in large format Slovenian oak botti pushed this contrast further by retaining freshness while also filling out the mouthfeel and structure. The nose shows high-toned spices, red cherry, earth, roses, almond, and anise. The mouth is medium-bodied with freshness and firm tannin on the finish. It is joyful and fully serious all at once.