Notes from the maker - Matthew Rorick.
The Queen of the Sierra red estate blend was grown on the Rorick Heritage Vineyard in Calaveras County at 2000’ elevation, featuring soils comprised of a layer of schist over dolomite-rich limestone. The Queen Red blend shows all of the aromatic complexity and textural presence that are the hallmarks of wines grown on the limestone of our estate. It presents with compelling dynamic tension between its bright and forward fruit and the supple tannins and lively acidity that make up this wine’s backbone. All fruit for our estate red was hand-picked; fermentation was allowed to begin spontaneously with native yeast. Each variety was fermented separately due to differing pick dates. All lots were pressed at dryness, averaging 14-21 days total time on the skins, and placed into neutral 227L barrique.The individual lots were racked and blended together; they remained in a combination of neutral oak and stainless steel until being bottled unfined and unfiltered in April of 2019.  As with all Forlorn Hope wines, no new oak is utilized, and nothing was added to the must or wine.