2018 Swing Barn Baco Noir Reserve - Limited Quantities

Named for the 137 year old swing beam barn that watches over our vineyards, this Baco is big, well structured and built to last. 

Introducing the 2018 Swing Barn Baco Noir Reserve, a buxom, robust red, exploding with dark berry, plum and violets on the nose and palate, liberally laced with spiced vanilla and black pepper notes. After alcoholic and malolactic fermentation in stainless steel, the wine was transferred to 225l American oak barrels for a total of 22 months, resulting in firm, but not overwhelming, tannins. This is a seductive, alluring, subtly structured Baco Noir, beguilingly fruit-forward with a long dry finish. Drink now or cellar for up to 5 years. 

Technical Data
Alc  11%               
pH   3.71 
TA    8.23 g/L            
RS    3.0 g/L 
Production 48 cases
Bottling       January 25, 2021 
 

Vineyard Data
-soil ranges from shallow to deep clay loam on limestone rock of the Niagara Escarpment
-vines planted in 1994
-small berried clone of Baco Noir provides for highly concentrated flavours
-2018 season: warm year with excellent precipitation levels
 
Winemaking Data
-destemmed then optical sorted
-cool whole berry fermentation on skins with hand plunging twice daily for 7 days
-100% malolactic fermentation concurrent with alcoholic fermentation in stainless
- 22 months aging in 225l French oak barrels

Swing beam barns are the original "open concept" barns, with large open areas for threshing or other work. To create this space, the central (swing) beam has to be large enough to carry the entire weight of the building without support studs. Swing beams are massive,  usually 36 feet long, 10-14 inches wide and 12-28 inches deep at their midpoint. The Staff barn, built in 1884, is one of the latest built and largest swing barns in Lincoln.  Source: Swing Beam Barns of Niagara, by Hugh W. Fraser.