Owners John and Lane Giguiere have been growing grapes and making wine for more than 25 years in Dunnigan Hills, California. After selling their family’s company, R.H. Philips, they started Crew Wines in 2005, naming the company in honor of the many staff members who left Phillips to join Crew. Mossback is an old fashioned term for farmer. The name was chosen because it alludes to the Giguiere’s long history in farming as well as the mossy rocks, tree trunks and end posts that dot the landscape of this cool climate growing area.

Tasting notes

The final blend contains a small percentage of Syrah and Petit Verdot to enhance richness and structure. This full bodied red offers intense aromas of vanilla, sweet cinnamon and clove and black licorice. Juicy flavors of black currants, chocolate covered cherries and blackberries are balanced by firm tannins and good acidity.

Wine maker notes

The grapes were hand harvested into half-ton bins then destemmed and crushed into small stainless steel fermenters. The must was then chilled to 50°F for 24 hours for its cold soak to enhance the berry aromas and juice was bled from the tank to concentrate flavors. After the cold soak, the tanks were allowed to warm naturally and slowly inoculated with a Bordeaux yeast isolate. We pumped over the wine twice a day using an aeration cart to enhance color stability and aromas. The wine was pressed off at dryness and then aged in French, Hungarian and American oak barrels for 26 months. The final blend contains 23% merlot to enhance smoothness and increase the velvety structure.

Technical notes

(77% Cabernet Sauvigno/23% Merlot). Fruit from vineyards located in Chalk Hill was hand-picked, destemmed and crushed into small stainless steel fermentors. The grapes were cold soaked for 24 hours, after which some of the free run juice was bled from the tank to concentrate flavors. The tanks were allowed to warm and the must was inoculated with a Bordeaux yeast isolate. During fermentation, the wine was pumped over the wine twice a day and then aged in a combination of French, American and Hungarian oak barrels for 26 months.

Other text

RUSTIC MOSSBACK Mossback is an old fashioned term for farmer. The Giguiere family has a long history of farming, and for the Mossback brand we have sought fruit from some of the most renowned farmers in the Russian River Valley. The name also conjures up images of the mossy rocks, tree trunks and end posts that are so prevalent in the cool Russian River Valley. About the Appellation This brand consists of a Russian River Valley Chardonnay, a Russian River Valley Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon from the Chalk Hill appellation.