A preview of the 2011 Leggiero from James Cambridge

The Chardonnay we are using for Leggiero this year was sourced from the NK’Mip Band in north Oliver (Tuc el’ Nuit area). We got block ‘T’ which is on the east side of their vineyard and the clone was 76 and the root stock was SO4. The vines are approximately 20 years old and the soil is a mixture of sand and sandy loam with scattered river rock throughout. The block was 112 rows long and we get our fruit starting from the south end of the block which is the ripest end.

We harvested a total of 6.788 tons with a Brix level of 22.0, ph of 3.2, and T/A (Total Acidity) of 6.4.  Potential alcohol is 13.0 %. The fruit has very nice crisp apple and citrus flavors, good acidity, and was some of the cleanest fruit I have ever seen in the Okanagan Valley. There was zero rot in the entire lot.

I’m anticipating a nice clean ferment likely in two lots with several different strains of yeasts. As mentioned potential alcohol should be right on 13% which should be a nice light crisp package!

James Cambridge