2008 Beringer Alluvium Blanc Knights Valley

Vineyards
Located 17 miles northwest of the winery, this vineyard has volcanic, well-drained soils that are perfectly suited to Cabernet Sauvignon, Sauvignon Blanc, Sémillon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Knights Valley designation was first used on a Beringer label in 1974. By 1983, this area had won official recognition as a premier wine growing region in the form of its own American Viticulture Area (AVA) designation. Today, Winemaker Laurie Hook uses these wonderful grapes to craft our renowned Beringer Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, Alluvium Blanc and Alluvium Red.

Vintage
The 2007 growing season began with very cool temperatures in the Winter. Spring and Summer brought warmer temperatures, but still consistently mild overall, resulting in ripening of the fruit at a very steady pace. The dryness of the season resulted in smaller yields than some previous years, and overall the quality was impressive. The grapes for the 2007 Alluvium Blanc were harvested from August 24th through October 4th, 2007.

Winemaking
The 2007 Alluvium Blanc is predominantly Sauvignon Blanc (49 percent) and Semillon (40 percent) with small amounts of Chardonnay (9 percent) and Viognier (1 percent). Laurie barrel fermented 96 percent of the Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon lots in French Nevers oak, almost half of which were new. The nutty, toasty aromas and flavors lent by the oak give a lush backdrop for its bright, refreshing citrus flavors. The wines underwent malolactic fermentation (96 percent) to bring a creaminess to the overall blend that balances the crisp acidity of the Sauvignon Blanc.