Our Wines: Seyval Blanc
2006 Persimmon Creek Seyval Blanc
Three blocks planted in the coolest section of the 110 acre Persimmon Creek estate, sloping towards the creek, where the morning fog in spring and summer linger longest. The cold climate growing conditions of Persimmon Creek Valley, our vertical trellis and close vine spacing practices, and rocky loam (high percentage of mica and quartz) in the soil all factor in to the production of unusually intense varietal aromas and flavors for this grape. Well-known for its vigor in the field, which we control with aggressive pruning, canopy management and cluster exposure, Seyval Blanc is a hybrid variety of Vitis vinifera (Seibel 4986 x Seibel 5656) developed by the French in the late nineteenth century specifically for cold climate viticulture.
Winemaking: Appellation: Georgia
Dr. William Hardman, vigneron
Blend: 100% Estate Grown and Bottled Seyval Blanc
Alcohol: 11%
Total Acidity: 0.554g/100mL
pH: 3.20
Residual Sugar: 1.5%
Harvested: September 20-22, 2006
Bottled: April 21,2007 by hand
Cases: 310
Cellar and Fermentation: Temperature controlled stainless steel fermentation; aged in neutral French oak with battonage (stirring of lees) to accentuate texture for six months.
Tasting Notes: Subtle complexity of perfumes suggesting fresh pear, quince and citrus – lemon and orange-flower water – with distinctive flint
or minerally nuances. Crisp, vanillin textured, and light-medium bodied on the palate; with fresh, zesty fruit flavors underlined
by gentle, citrusy natural acidity, finishing almost dry (i.e. just a “whisper” of sweetness) despite the touch of residual sugar in the
middle.
The Vineyard: Seyval Blanc
Sultry Seyval Blanc
Seyval Blanc is the ideal cold climate grape; more likely to be found in
parts of the world (such as upstate New York, Nova Scotia and England)
where frigid temperatures are otherwise hostile to Vitis vinifera.
Seyval Blanc is a hybrid grape; a late nineteenth century crossing of two
varieties of Seibel devised by the French specifically for cold climate
viticulture. In Northeast Georgia we have found that the grape ripens to
a point where it is positively bursting with aroma and flavor – suggesting
fresh citrus, wildflowers and an intriguing, flinty minerality – with sugars
to spare and plenty of balancing acidity.
Temperatures
How does Northeast Georgia define “cold climate?” Persimmon Creek’s mean temperatures during the crucial months between bud break and harvest (late April to September) go from the mid-60s in the beginning and end (May and September), and hover between the mid-70s and mid- 80s in June, July and August. By comparison, this is a good 10 degrees less than most parts of the West Coast; and also by comparison, this is a few degrees warmer than the top half of the East Coast and Canada where Seyval Blanc is also a popular planting.
Both science and instinct told us to plant our vines in the coldest section of the estate, on a slope dipping towards the Persimmon Creek, running alongside as it enters our property. This is the lowest part of the vineyard; and so each morning, spring through summer, the rolling fog peels itself off the Seyval vines last, resulting in daytime growing temperatures a good 3 to 5 degrees Fahrenheit lower than in other blocks. This, of course, suits cold loving Seyval Blanc just fine; as it still grows like the dickens despite the high percentage of mica and quartz in its rocky loam; necessitating aggressive canopy management to expose the clusters on the vertically trained vines.
As in the rest of the vineyard, we have varied our vine spacing in our Seyval Blanc blocks, utilizing both 4’ x 8’ (vines four feet apart, along rows eight feet apart) and 6’ x 8’ plantings. The devigorating aspects of closer spacing helps by contributing to more definitive varietal character. The result? Appellation America based in San Francisco (appellationamerica.com) says it stands in the “top echelon” of the world’s Seyval Blancs.
Review: The Appellation America.
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