Summary

Vineyard planted in 1995
Vine spacing 6' x 8'
Dijon 115, Swan, and Pommard clones/selections
1103P rootstock
Eastern exposure
1.7 tons per acre fruit yield

3.79 pH
0.46 g/100mL titratable acidity
14.1% alcohol by volume
60% new, 40% 1-year old French oak barrels
Aged 16 months
245 cases produced

Vineyards and Winemaking

Thorn Ridge Vineyard has the distinction of being one of the least hospitable vineyard sites I have ever visited. Ted Klopp farms this desolate outpost located about five miles southwest of Sebastopol on the northern edge of the Petaluma Gap. The soils are low-vigor silt and the very limited water supply almost qualifies Thorn Ridge as a dry-farmed vineyard. Thorn Ridge Vineyard is pummeled by cold air and fog rushing through the lowest point in California's Coast Range, naturally limiting yields and ensuring extended hang times.

The vintage of 2002 was uncharacteristically marked by minor heat waves during every month of the growing season, followed by weekly temperature spikes during harvest. Rain during flowering kept yields low, which combined with the heat fluctuations to produce exceptionally ripe grapes.

The grapes were simply destemmed with approximately 25% retained as whole clusters, then left to soak prior to the start of a native fermentation. Part way through, a small amount of a commercial yeast strain was introduced to ensure completion of the process. The must was pressed after spending 34 days in vat. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and sixteen months of aging in new and one-year-old French oak barrels from the coopers Francois Freres, Dargaud & Jaegle, Cadus, Remond and Marcel Cadet. The production was miniscule at only 245 cases.

Tasting Notes

A little riper than previous examples of Talisman's wine from this property, the aroma opens with hints of blackberry, chocolate, and mineral. The texture on the palate is round and voluptuous, redolent of blackberry, blueberry, and cherry cheesecake. There are glimpses of smoke and the wine finishes with a sensual texture and slightly grippy, fine-grained tannins. This wine reacts favorably with a bit of air and we don't hesitate to recommend a gentle decanting prior to serving.