2023 Franklinford Vineyard Dolcetto 750mL

Handpicked on the 9th of April, once back at the winery we de-stemmed all of the grapes. Remaining on skins for 7 weeks in total we do pump overs daily whilst the fermentation is active, the grapes were then basket pressed and the wine was transferred to barrel (seasoned French barriques) for maturation. The wine stays in barrel for 12 months being topped regularly before being racked to tank with a sulphur dioxide addition. Here it stays for 4 months to settle and clarify in the cold winter months. Prior to bottling there is another sulphur dioxide addition. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.

The Franklinford Dolcetto is as always very dark in colour; it offers aromas of aniseed, pepper, orange peel, freshly turned earth and cooked blackberries. It is a powerful wine that is also in some sense elegant for its size. Cooked blackberries are at the forefront but there is ample tannin and acidity. This year it feels lighter in some senses although still fully ripe and warming. There is a refreshing simplicity to the wine yet it is also complex.