Issue link: http://winesandvines.uberflip.com/i/144804
TECHNICAL REVIEW wi n ema k i n g All of the lots are fermented separately—many in Transtore tanks, others in small open-top fermentors (even some Cabernet) and T-bins. They process perhaps 50 lots including different barrel and press fractions and taste that many for blending (again a familiar process after blending sparkling wine from 120 lots). With half the typical yeast addition, they ferment in 10 to 12 days, usually without extended maceration. They employ some cold soaking pre-fermentation, which helps balance out pro- Many of the winery's tanks were brought from the former production site, Frank Family VineR&D_Jan08 11/12/07 to replace them. yards, but Davies expects 3:54 PM Page 1 duction because of limited tank space, Thompson says. They have to do two turns in the tanks now and are looking forward to replacing them with more smaller tanks. They're also looking into concrete fermentors, though not necessarily "eggs." The $80 J. Davies Cabernet is aged in 80%-85% new French oak. The two years before 2012 were challenging, Davies notes. "We could only get some of the Cabernet to 22° (Brix). In 2012 and 2009, we could put twice as much wine in the bottle. We sold off more bulk wine than our accountants wanted." Because of 2012's bountiful harvest, last year's production was about 7,500 cases, 25% above the expected 6,000-6,500 cases even with added bulk wine sold. The winery also makes a second label from its estate vineyard, jd Cabernet, which sells for $50 at the winery. It plans to offer non-estate Cabs under the Davies Vineyard label, too. Adding Pinot Noir Davies had made Pinot Noir from some of its Diamond Mountain fruit Glass Apparatus for the Wine Laboratory Acclaimed by enologists across the continent! The RD80 Volatile Acid Still is an improvement on the Cash Still for determination of volatile acids in wine. It features an aspirator pump to remove the spent sample, which speeds testing, saves water, avoids repair bills, and prevents cross contamination of samples. The R&D SO2 Apparatus uses the AerationOxidation Method to maximize testing accuracy. It is specifically designed for this test in consultation with enologists. Flexible spherical joints and interchangeable flasks facilitate simple operation and minimize breakage. We manufacture a full line of wine laboratory equipment, and also provide Glassware Design Engineering, Custom Fabrication, and Repair Services. CALL, FAX OR WRITE FOR OUR CATALOG OF WINE APPARATUS. Research & Development Glass Products & Equipment, Inc. 1808 Harmon Street • Berkeley, CA • 510-547-6464 • Fax 510-547-3620 E-mail: RD1967@aol.com • Web site: http://go.to/RandD Suppliers of Lab Glassware to the Wine Industry since 1967 66 W in es & V i ne s AU G U ST 20 13 CALIFORNIA Mendocino J. Davies Estate and Davies Vineyards Pacific Ocean NV Napa San Francisco before replanting, but he got serious about Pinot by releasing the first Pinot under the Davies Vineyard label in 2009 (J. Davies is reserved for estate Cabernet). These grapes come primarily from two sites in Anderson Valley: Londer Vineyard near cool Philo and Ferrington Vineyards near warmer Booneville, and from the remote Nobles Vineyard on the Sonoma Coast only two ridges from the cold Pacific Ocean in the proposed West Sonoma Coast AVA. The winery sells each as a vineyard designate for $50. It is looking at wines from Carneros and Sonoma Coast, too. Last year, the winery got more than twice the expected Pinot tonnage due to the strong vintage.