2024 Cuvée, Dell Valley Vineyard

Vibrantly aromatic, this is a wine of power and refinement. Aromas evoke homemade lemon and apple tart, crème brûlée, and fragrant florals. The palate is a laser beam of acidity balanced by a weighty texture, courtesy of fermentation in concrete and old barrels.

Wet and healthy start to season - Moderate temperatures - Lengthy grape development time

Hand-picked. Free run juice was kept for this bottling. Chardonnay fermented in 100% neutral oak barrels and Chenin Blanc in 60% concrete tank and 40% neutral barrels. The cuvée was blended and bottled for secondary fermentation. 18 months of autolysis. Riddled and resealed with 2.5 g/L dosage.

The decadent aromas of this wine point to creamy cheeses, banana bread, and cheesecake. For a savory alternative, try the caramelized notes of pork belly or onion.

Originally planted in 1987, the vines at Dell Valley Vineyard are thick and deeply rooted in the sloped, ancient caliche soils of the Chihuahuan Desert in Far West Texas. The 200 or so acres of over a dozen varieties are tended by Phillipe Littot, whose experience with growing grapes began at an early age on the French island of Corsica. It is the sole vineyard in the remote area.

Vine maturity: About 11 years

Soil: Amarillo sandy loam over caliche with river rock

Elevation: 3,750 feet

In 2024 a “Dell Valley” AVA was proposed.