Grands
Echezeaux, Clos Vougeot, Château Pétrus, Château
Latour and STORYBOOK MOUNTAIN..share clay and face in an easterly
direction. Clay? The heaviest and most moisture laden of all the soils?
East? and not the warmth generated by southern or southwestern exposures?
The Aiken series clay soils of Storybook Mountain are relatively
rare in the Napa Valley, found in less than two percent of the
county. Volcanic in origin, they are particularly rich in manganese
and iron which, with organic materials, accounts for the red color.
Rich in calcium as well, with ratios of calcium to magnesium 4:1
and up, our soils compare well with the best vineyard soils, increasing
the vine's ability to absorb potassium, a crucial element in fruit
quality.
Equally
important is that these soils are on a hillside. Given the water retentive
nature of clay, without the slope, vines would soon become water logged,
inhibiting or even killing root development in wet years. Thanks to
the good drainage our hills provide, saturation quickly gives way
to a gradual, steady diminishing of moisture. This encourages root
development drawing the roots down as the soil slowly dries out in
the warmth of summer, yet allowing enough retained moisture to provide
increased uptake of nutrients by the vines. The result? There is an
added degree of richness and intensity to grapes grown in these types
of soils, plus an enhancement of the spicy character of grapes such
as Zinfandel, and in the resulting wines a greater complexity, even
a slight hint of minerals. The intensity and depth of these wines
provide the potential for graceful ageability.
previous article: Why Zinfandel?
