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WINEMAKING tions have been conducted much like the Pinot program: the same bins (literally, since the Pinots get picked and processed a few weeks earlier than the Cabernets), similar cold soaks, the same top-only yeast addi- tions, pressing on a bin-by-bin basis and no fining or filtration. Tom Stutz, left, winemaker at La Rochelle and Steven Kent Mirassou, of La Rochelle and Steven Kent wineries, pull a sample from a barrel at Wente Vineyards, where they make their wine. Kent Cabernet The Steven Kent wines are made in a similar fashion. Wente small-lot winemaker Claude Bobba oversees the wines, working closely with Mirassou on the protocols. And while the winemaking for the two brands is pur- posely kept separate, Stutz's Pinot paradigm has had an influence on the Kent Cabernets. Up until 2009, the Cabernets were all tank fermented, but since then, the fermenta- CASEGOODS • PROCESSING • STRATEGIC PLANNING • Unmatched expertise in long-term contracts Fast response to client needs • market information and research Publishers of • for a S trategic Avnae Te Tretn h urnie Outlook: S datg • Reputation for integrity from 38 years of service • Over $1.5 billion in grape and wine sales in the last 10 years • Proven long-term strategies from exclusive and superior trategies & Forecasts Steve Fredricks: President / Domestic & International Bulk Wine Brian Clements: Vice President / North Coast Grapes Michael Robichaud: Senior Broker / Bulk Wine Erica Moyer: Interior & Monterey County Grapes Steve Robertson: Bulk Wine Our Team of Brokers: Matt Turrentine: SLO & Santa Barbara Grapes Stephens Moody: Bulk Wine Audra Cooper: North Coast Grapes Marc Cuneo: North Coast Bulk Wine www.turrentinebrokerage.com QSEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #1310 415.209.9463 • Reliable depth filter sheets ◆ for successful filtration ◆ from pre-clarification ◆ to bottling VINTNERS SUPPLY COMPANY P.O. Box 153, St. Helena, CA 94574 Toll Free 800.366.6809 • Fax 707.584.7955 www.vintnerssupply.com QSEE US AT UNIFIED, BOOTH #510 Wines & Vines JAnUARY 2012 55 Strategic Advisors GRAPES • WINES IN BULK • GLOBAL SOURCING Trusted and A DIVISION OF MOECKLY ENTERPRISES, INC. ™ FILTRATION & SEPARATION VintnersSupply_Immer_Dir11.qxd 11/19/10 1:41 PM Page 1 The Kent Cabs mostly come from estate vineyards close to the winery, with a small amount of purchased Livermore fruit. The Home Ranch is planted half to Cabernet, half to Barbera and Sangiovese (which also go into small Seven Kent bottlings); the Ghielmetti Vineyard has all five Bordeaux red varieties (most of which get separate bottlings as wine club wines), including multiple clones of Cabernet Sauvignon—IC Davis 30 as well as 6, 7 and 8 and the French 337. The Cabernet and other Bordeaux varieties get a small dash of sulfur at the crusher. Cold soaks for the Cabernet don't use the cold room, since the whole facility is fairly cool. (Last year, Mirassou took advantage of the chilly weather and moved some bins outside for a cooling-off period.) The bins of grapes get additions of French and American oak chips; rehydrated yeast is layered on top, and punch downs start after a few