Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/14611
departmeNt HeaDeR listening to what the wines and vines were saying. “After six months in barrels, I realized my original thought process of 18 to 20 months in barrel was not accurate,” he admits. “The wine was telling me how it wanted to be har- vested, and that it needed 14 months in barrel. It was very anthropomorphic.” Last year’s release of the Herzog 2007 Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon, Haystack Peak Vineyards (320 cases, SRP $125) coincided with Hurliman’s second small-lot foray of that year’s harvest, the Herzog 2007 Cabernet Sauvignon Clone # Six Edition (188 cases produced, SRP $140), coming out of the Chalk Hill AVA and show- casing smaller-berried clones with highly concentrated flavors of bright blackberry and subtle herbaceousness. Despite differences in the expression of the grape, “There’s a common thread for this conversation with these single-vineyard wines,” says Hurliman, for whom the ultimate goal is always a satisfied and educated consumer. “Having these smaller lots, you get this dynamic aspect, and once it is bottled and your guests are here, you have that conversation with them directly.” Hurliman will continue to converse not only with vineyards, but also with his customers, thanks to upcoming 2008 releases from Sonoma County and Oak Knoll in Napa. “It’s all about shar- ing the vineyards. I want to be able fill in the gap for the guests and make wines from different regions, like a warmer area of Yountville, or Howell Mountain,” he explains. “It’s a special project for me, and I look forward to con- tinuing it—what more could a winemaker ask for?” Herzog’s new single- vineyard program showcases some of the winery’s best releases to date. At the Tasting Room at Herzog Wine Cellars, Winemaker Joe Hurliman loves interacting with guests. “What excites Joe so much is the little details, and it is important to share that with people,” explains Herzog’s Director of Marketing, Monica Agyekum. The brand’s single-vineyard wines each include a winemaker’s ledger that offers consumers insight. august 2010 / the tasting panel / 87