Analysis:
Alcohol: 14.5% | pH: 3.93 | Titratable acidity (as tartaric acid): 7.31g/L
Bottling Date: June 4, 2010
Cellaring: This wine is expected to age well to 2020.
Tasting Notes:
Burrowing Owl Estate Winery is pleased to announce the release of the 2008 ATHENE (a-THEE-nee); the first new label to be added to Burrowing Owl’s award winning line up of premium wines in 8 years.
The name chosen for this blend comes from the biological genus, Athene, to which the burrowing owl belongs: Athene cunicularia.
The 2008 Athene is a blend of Syrah (53%) and Cabernet Sauvignon (47%). What started out as an experimental blend in the cellar, turned into a beautiful wine which features aromas of dark red, luscious fruit, chocolate, mint, black currant and spice. One can also detect white pepper, cassis and ripe red cherries. The palate is dominated by dark red fruits, cassis and black currant with hints of cigar box and tobacco leaf. The tannins are silky smooth and the acidity is well balanced.
Wine Making:
The Syrah and Cabernet Sauvignon grapes were harvested at the end of October, 2008 from Burrowing Owl Vineyards in Oliver, B.C. The grapes were gently de-stemmed and gravity dropped into ONE tank prior to inoculations with our preferred yeast strains. The wine was co-fermented on skins for 20 days prior to the draining of the free wine and hard pressing of the skins. The wine then received 14 months of oak barrel exposure with periodic rackings.
