Stolpman Combe PetNat Trousseau 2020

Stolpman Combe PetNat Trousseau

Background
Pete Stolpman’s esoteric project is labeled “Combe” referring to the French word for a small sheltered valley within a vineyard. Sometime around 2010, Pete became convinced of the great potential for the pale red Trousseau grape on the Limestone soils of Stolpman Vineyards. We decided to make a light red Trousseau and a Trousseau Pet’Nat. The first vintage for the Trousseau wines was 2014, and we now have 3.5 acres planted to the varietal.

Varietal Blend
80% Trousseau, 20% Mondeuse

At the Winery
For the first time, we harvested a little over half of our .5 acre block of Mondeuse for Pet’nat with the goal of giving the wine more lift and acidity, and also a pale salmon color.

The fruit was transferred overnight up to the Maestro Michael Cruse’ sparkling facility in Petaluma. The wine fermented towards dryness and was placed into bottle under crown-cap with a touch of natural sugar remaining. The fermentation that finished in bottle creates the bubble.

An important note, Michael disgorges each bottle, removing any solid yeast material and lees from the bottle, and refills it – prior to bottling. This step ensures a consistent and elegant pressure and head.