2023 RZN Clairette Blanche

2023 Clairette Blanche Nolan Ranch Vineyard Alisos Canyon AVA Santa Barbara County The "Love Letters" Issue Alc. 11.5% by vol. The Vintage: Before the official vintage began, we had a solid amount of rain that started at the end of 2022 and all throughout the Spring of 2023. This gave way to a chilly Spring and slower/ longer growing season. This is more in line of the typical growing season prior to 2012, which was the start of many drought years leading up to 2023. Once the temperate heat and plenty of sun was upon us for summer, by mid fall the grapes were ready for the picking. Clairette was picked October 19th, which was two weeks later than the 2022 vintage. The Process: The grapes were hand harvested at night and brought to the winery in the early morning. We dump the fruit into the bladder press and run the press cycle for 3 hours. The pressed juice is pumped directly to a steel tank and settles for one day. It is racked to neutral French oak barrels for fermentation. We let th