Growing Conditions
2015 was the earliest grapes have ever been harvested in the
state of Washington as well as for àMaurice. We picked our
first lot in August! It was the warmest year on record and
proved to be a warm fall as well. The skins thickened due
to the intense and lasting heat that created density and
richness in the resulting wine. We picked as fast as we
could to maintain freshness and natural acidity.
VINEYARDS
àMaurice Estate Vineyard – Tom Schafer & Ken Hart
(Walla Walla, WA, Walla Walla Valley AVA) 1,500 ft.
elevation, planted 2006 in half glacial till alluvial soils, the
other half pre-glacial soils. 12 inches of topsoil, 20 feet of
sandy loam, 60 feet of gravel, and then the Wanapum basalt
aquifer. Southern facing slope with excellent sun exposure
and cold air drainage, just upland from Mill Creek.
Bottling
Bottled,
unfined and unfiltered.
Winemaking
After being hand picked and hand sorted the fruit is
fermented in small lot stainless steel 1.5 ton fermenters with
it’s cap punched down and pumped over. Malolactic
fermented in barrel for two months.
Aging
Aged in 100%
French Oak (40% new) for 24 months.
