Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/961311
{ SOMMjournal.com } 77 Charles Wetmore AVA: Livermore Soil: Gravelly, coarse, sandy loam Climate: Mediterranean- like climate with maritime influence Elevation: 460–735 feet above sea level Unique attributes: Falling in line with the rest of the Livermore Valley, Charles Wetmore has an uncom- mon east-west orientation, which creates a funnel for the breezes from the San Francisco Bay. Grapes: Cabernet Sau- vignon, Cabernet Franc, Malbec, Merlot, Petite Sirah, Petit Verdot, and Sauvignon Blanc Current Release Wine(s): Wente Vineyards Charles Wetmore Caber- net Sauvignon "We make wines based on our palate. This year we used 8% Malbec, 4% Petit Verdot, 4% Merlot, and 4% Petit Sirah," said Wente as we tasted the 2015 Charles Wetmore Cab. "We've been blending earlier over the last few years. By now, for instance, we have all 17 blends made [for the 2017 vintage]. Probably half of our Cabernets now are co-fermented with 5–7% Malbec, Petit Verdot, or Petit Sirah, and that really helps build structure or stable color. Also, for that mid-palate unctuousness, building that mouthfeel in the co- fermentation really does the job." Sam Spencer, Consulting Winemaker for Wente, further described the vineyard dur - ing the comparative tasting: "It's a little warmer down here, and the air doesn't move in quite the same way. Smith Ranch is tipped to the west with a little bit of southern trend to it, so we get fresh fruit flavors and delicious texture out of these wines without having to push them too hard. We're not trying to pick at 28 or 30 Brix and make high-alcohol wines out of them like this Napa wine," Spencer said as he picked up the corresponding glass from his tasting mat. "We're looking to make something that's a little more balanced and fresh. We've also got a lot of diversity with which to work in while blending."