Fruit
100% Dolgo Crab Apple

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

Vinification
Fruit was harvested the second week of August 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 ~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 remaining barrels sat undisturbed for an additional 12 months before being racked off its gross/fine lees in February of 2023. The resulting cider was forced carbonated with no additions of SO2 made at any stage.

Notes
If you have spent any time with us over the years you how much we love Dolgo Crabapples. It is a jewel in so many ways; grows exceptional well in our mountains with no sprays, contains off the chart levels of acidity and packs a truly unique and powerful flavor profile. More so, it allows us to display a captivating off-dry style of cider without relying on extensive cellar intervention or preservatives. Its early bloom can expose itself to the impacts of April’s early frosts but its worth it for the year’s we gain fruit make up for those lost. This cider explodes out of the glass with heavenly aromas of ripe strawberry jam. Extraordinary concentrated and deep, the nose plays equal parts in a symphony with the palate. A balance of fresh fruit and salivating acid dance, integrated by 18 months of aging in barrel. This is one of our best ciders made to date.

33 Cases Produced, Alc. 6.9% by Volume, 750mL

The label artwork is derived from the ever inspiring book The Valley Road by Fay Ingalls, a look back into the golden years of Virginia Hot Springs. Each chapter’s artwork, drawn by Margaret Lowengrund, depicts a landscape or scene from varying places within the Warm Springs Valley.

*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.