2014 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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Gold Medal | SF Chronicle Wine Competition | January 2016
Gold Medal | SF International Wine Competition | June 2016

Tasting Notes

This is a juicy, medium-bodied Pinot Noir with hints of cherry cola, raspberry, and clove aromas followed by bright, crisp flavors of pomegranate, Queen Anne cherry, and a touch of licorice.

Vintage Notes

Warm sunny days throughout the spring and summer months set the stage for a spectacular harvest in September 2014. The lack of rain meant that harvest began a little earlier than normal and was short in length, finishing up by the end of October. The temperate days leading up to harvest produced good yields of high-quality fruit with concentrated flavors, complex aromatics, and excellent structure.

Vineyard Notes

We source our Pinot Noir fruit from the cooler areas of Sonoma County where fog from the Pacific Ocean rolls in at night during the summer, dropping temperatures substantially. This natural air-conditioning allows the grapes to develop deep flavors while retaining natural acidity.

Winemaker Notes

To capture the distinct varietal characteristics of each vineyard, the lots are fermented separately starting with a five to ten-day cold soak to extract optimal color and flavor. After a long, slow fermentation the wine is racked off into French Oak barrels, 25% new, where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation followed by aging for ten months before blending and bottling.