Winemaker Notes: Andy Erickson, 2019 Harvest/Vintage

Growing Season

Looking back at the flavor of the 2019 wines, there is a ton of energy packed into every glass; making us think back to what led up to the growing season that produced such balanced, delicious, and concentrated wines. In the winter before the season, there was a lot of rainfall along with some rain in May to set up the vines for successful growth. Because there was basically no more rain in the rest of the growing season, vigor was balanced and shoots were strong - the weather was mild with sunshine, and temperatures only rose above 100 degrees two separate times.  

Harvest Season

With the mild weather and dry conditions, the growing fruit was beautifully developed - providing a generous yield; compared to the previous vintage (2018), this was only slightly less yield. By the time early October rolled around and harvest began, the grapes had ample acidity, elevated aromatics, and had fully matured color and tannin. This created a high-energy scenario in both the fruit and the wines that had resulted. 

The Results

The results in the wines had a remarkable purity of expression and brightness, but they were also dark and dense. The 2018 vintage was a hard act to follow, of course, but these 2019 wines are classic Napa Valley through and through, making the aging process in the coming decades an easy one. 

ELLMAN 

At ELLMAN, we are a family-owned vineyard in Napa Valley and one of the family-owned wineries in Napa. Working with winemaker Andy Erickson, we focus on long-lasting wine that honors both our family and our community. As one of the top wineries in Napa, our Napa family vineyards are third-generation and it shows. Working with Andy Erickson wine has taken our product to the next level. You can try our wine for yourself on our website or you can join us at our Downtown Napa tasting rooms by booking on our contact page. Visit ELLMAN today - we are just a call or click away. 

In beautiful Napa Valley, there are so many vineyards and wineries to explore. If you are interested in traveling to Napa Valley or you have a future trip planned, there is a lot to take in when you get here. To get the most out of your Napa experience, consider taking a look at some of these great resources to learn more about what to expect when visiting Napa Valley: