2017 Bismark Titan 750ml
Vineyard Source: Our Bismark Mountain Ranch is high above the city of Sonoma and San Pablo Bay. Here on the southwestern flanks of the Mayacamas Mountains plantings include Malbec, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot and Cabernet Sauvignon amid outcroppings of Rhyolite. We began planting in 1991 and continue to fine tune our mix of cultivars to this day. This is steep ground; shared with Creosote bush, Grey pine, coyote and mountain lion. Topographically it is like the Douro. Windy, sun drenched yet moderate in temperature, Bismark grudgingly produces grapes with an intense, deeply concentrated flavor. Bismark’s unique terroir is both fierce and alluring.
Vintage 2017: A welcome, very wet winter recharged the Mountain’s ground water supply. A relatively dry, cool spring led into a summer with alternating cool and very hot periods. Blocks that were blooming during extremes suffered some shatter but overall, the crop size was average. A cool August was followed by a Labor Day heat wave that pushed harvest into high gear. Temperatures then moderated into a glorious, easy ripening September and early October. The grapes for the Bismark Mountain Titan were harvested from September 6 to October 7, 2017 at an average of 28o Brix. Based on predicted hot, very dry, and windy conditions we luckily decided to pick everything remaining on the Saturday before the Nuns fire wrought its destruction-the following day.
Winemaking: The grapes were sorted, destemmed, and partially crushed to stainless steel fermentation tanks. Pressing was done to taste, based on frequent tastings of the wines during pumpovers. The newly pressed wines were racked to tank and allowed to settle before barreling. The wine was barrel aged on lees for 26 months in 49% new French and Hungarian oak.
Tasting Notes: A year of bottle age has served this inky beauty well. The array of aromas dazzles. Clove, chocolate, Bing cherry, raspberry reduction, freshly ground espresso, caraway, lavender, hazelnut, and chicory. The fruit notes are amplified in the flavors while this Titan’s texture is lively, concentrated, and perilously delicious. ( tasted 3-31-21)
Variety
62% Malbec, 34% Cabernet Sauvignon, 4% Cabernet Franc
Vineyard Location
Hanna’s Bismark Mountain Ranch Blocks 26, 3, 6, 10, and 23A
Age of Vines 15-23 years
Harvest Dates
September 6, to October 7, 2017
Alcohol 15.2%
pH 3.88
Titratable Acidity (TA)
0.59 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar 0.2%
Fermentation
Inoculated with selected yeasts. 5-8 days skin contact.
Length/Type of Aging
26 months in 60-gal oak
barrels.
Oak Types
49% new French & Hungarian
from Remond Boutes and Trust.
Bottling Date
March 25, 2020
Number of Cases
467