Malus x ‘Dolgo’ 2022/2023

Site
Hightown Orchard - Highland County, VA 3100 ft elevation. Unsprayed, 40-50 year old trees.

Fruit
100% Dolgo Crabapple

Vinification
Fruit was harvested the second week of August of 2021 and ground into covered macro bins for a 48 hour cold soak before being pressed directly to a handful of neutral French oak barrels. The cider spontaneously keeved, preserving as much as ~20g/L of residual sugar. A barrel featuring a lower level of RS was selected early in its élevage to be bottled as part of Special Edition No. 08 in February of 2022. The second barrel sat undisturbed for an additional 12 months before being racked off its gross/fine lees in February of 2023 and bottled as Special Edition No. 12. The third ’21 was blended with 2022 Dolgo cider, containing less residual sugar, and aged for additional 17 months before being racked to tank for bottling. The resulting cider was forced carbonated with no additions of SO2 made at any stage.

Notes
It is a lot fun to observe how the composition of our releases begin to form on their own. Over the years we have found similar trajectories for our Dolgo ciders and Petit Manseng wines. Both are powerful wines in their own right, containing striking acidity and intense structure. Naturally we have begun to explore their aging capacities in the cellar. This year’s release of Dolgo boasts over three years of aging in barrel, containing components from the 2021 vintage. Additional aging has yielded a leaner and prettier profile of more precise aromatics. Its strawberry jam and cranberry acidity are a little less punchy and somehow maybe even more refreshing. We love making this esoteric cider given its truly distinctive profile and ability to broaden the conversation of what Virginian cider can be.

12 cases produced, 6.9% Alc. by Volume, 750ml