Inspiration
One of the pleasures and rewards of operating a family owned
winery is the opportunity to commemorate and celebrate the milestones that
families experience. We commemorated the birth of our two granddaughters, June
and Vivian with the Pink Wine, and now with the birth of our grandson, Marston
in 2020, we are delighted to celebrate his birth with this red wine blend,
Marston’s Cuvée.
The Harvest
Mild temperatures during the 2018 growing season continued
through harvest and well into October. The Bordeaux grape varietals that
constitute 70% of this blend were harvested from October 30th to
November 6th with an average sugar content of 25.5 Brix. The Syrah
grapes were harvested on October 9th and October 31st
with an average sugar content of 25.8 Brix.
Winemaking
Every lot in this blend was 100% destemmed and crushed into
a small, open top fermenter. The must was cold soaked for an average of three
days, before adding a yeast culture to begin fermentation. Fermentation lasted
an average of 12-days. The wines were pressed off, settled then transferred to
French oak barrels and aged for 21 months. 18% of the barrels were new French
oak and the remaining barrels were neutral. The blend was lightly filtered and
bottled in August 2021.
The Wine
The wine has a dark ruby color. The aroma has a slightly
herbal, olive character of the Bordeaux grape varietals that are the major
component of the blend, followed by hints of black cherries. On the palate the
wine is medium-bodied with flavors of black cherry jam and vanillin. The
moderate tannins and balanced acidity give the wine a lively finish.
Food Pairings
This wine will pair well with a variety of foods including
pork loin, grilled meats or a charcuterie and cheese plate.