Fruit
93.5% Chambourcin, 6.5% Damson plum

Sites
-Bluestone Vineyard - Bridgewater, Rockingham County, Virginia 1240’ elevation
-Silver Creek Orchard - Tyro, Nelson County, Virginia 1060’ elevation

Vinification
Chambourcin was harvested in late September of 2022, foot tread whole cluster and macerated for four days. Manual punch downs were down twice a day and free run wine was separated directly to a neutral French oak barrel. Once nearly done with an uninoculated native primary fermentation, previously fermented plum wine was added to top up the barrel. Damson plums were foot tread and macerated for five days before pressing to glass demijohns. The barrel sat undisturbed for until mid April of 2023, when it was racked off its gross/fine lees to be blended with additional plum wine. Bottled sparkling via traditional method, undisgorged and rested in bottle for an additional four months before releasing. No additions of SO2 were made at any stage of this wine.

Notes
Over the past three vintages we have tinkered with this approach to whole cluster Chambourcin. While red wines certainly feel the farthest from our apple-centric wheelhouse, we have been encouraged by how much this wine truly fits in with our production. It has a lot of what we look for; freshness, aromatics, it’s quaffable, and challenges the consumer to think a little. In what is the highest percentage of Chambourcin in this blend to date, we transition this wine from an occasional special edition to a new label of its own. This year’s bottling is vibrant, snappy, hosting candied fruit with subtle licorice and rose in the nose. Give this bottle a little time to open as its bouquet will evolve. Although a smaller percentage of Damson was elected, its presence aromatically and as a natural “dosage” of sorts still presents itself as an integral part of the wine. 

26 cases produced. Alc. 10.5% by Volume, 750ml 

Label artwork by Anna Thompson of Palindrome Creative Co.

*Available for shipments in Virginia & Washington DC OR pick-up at Oakley Farm. Ship to other states here. Shipments may be delayed based on temperatures.