Mermejita ‘22
$36.00
‘Mermejita’ comes from the southernmost vineyard we worked with in 2021 just miles from the U.S. Mexican border. Dulzura, CA is located in the lower Peninsular Range Region in San Diego County, situated at about 1,800 feet elevation. It is surrounded by steep mountains covered in granite boulders and chaparral vegetation. The marble, slates, schist and quartzites soils come from the cooling of molten magmas within the earth’s crust, some 120-90 million years ago.
The magmas were created during a convergence of the subduction of an oceanic crustal plate and the North American plate, and over millions of years masses of volcanic rocks accumulating in the earth’s crust metamorphosed the sedimentary rocks already present. A distinctly ancient region in terms of human existence, Dulzura’s soils reveal a geology of the Earth, and we were able to capture a tiny glimpse of that through the making of this Marsanne/Viognier co-ferment who’s vines’ roots were immersed in these primordial soils.
Dulzura has a 30+ degree diurnal shift and the Pacific Ocean breeze consistently blows through the region, keeping the vines cool in the heat of summer.
The grapes were hand harvested by crew, Chenoa and Will in August of 2022. The site has 20 different varietals planted, and the day of the pick we were able to decide the co-ferment/field blend we wanted to make. 50% Viognier, 35% Marsanne, 10% Pinot Gris, 5% Sauvignon Blanc. The Viognier was direct pressed, while the Marsanne, Pinot Gris and Sauvignon Blanc were destemmed and fermented on the skins for 10 days, then pressed out and blended with the Viognier. Aged in french neutral Oak, racked twice and aged in barrel for 9 months.
No additions or subtractions. Unfined, unfiltered, zero SO2.
Alcohol By Volume: 12.3%
Style: Skin Contact White
Variety: 50% Viognier, 35%Marsanne, 10% Pinot Gris, 5% Sauvignon Blanc
Vineyard: Valentina Vineyards -1800 ft. elevation
AVA: South Coast
Farming: Organic
Harvest Date: 8-25-22
Bottling Date: 8-20-23
Cases Produced: 100
Fiber Art: Laura Basanta
Tasting Notes: Floral on the nose, taste of dried flowers, dried apricots, dried apples, earthy with salinity.