2021 Chenin Blanc – Prince Vineyard

One of the many varietals within Prince Vineyard is Chenin Blanc: planted in 1995, 1996 and 2012 in nine separate blocks totaling 92.08 acres. The vineyard is in the Clarksburg Appellation, with an ideal location to maintain the natural acidity and floral bouquet.

The 2021 vintage brought us the earliest start of harvest we’ve experienced, with our crews starting on July 26th.  After our white and early red varietals were brought in to the winery, many of our red varietals were predicted to reach maturity at the same time. The compaction of the second half of the harvest season became both a challenge and priority for us. As Fall approached, the smaller fruit set, paired with consistently higher temperatures caused many red varietals to mature rapidly. Varietals such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Malbec, and Petite Sirah came off three weeks sooner than average, with slightly higher brix than targeted, although with good acidity.  With all said and done, the vintage came in smaller than expected, though with outstanding quality that we are thrilled to present.

CLARKSBURG AVA – Located on the Sacramento River in the heart of the Delta, the Clarksburg AVA has a profound maritime influence. Cool mornings give way to warm afternoons and temperatures quickly cool again in the evenings. With land at or below sea level, the fertile soil attracts and holds nutrients and water which calls for constant monitoring.