2017 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley

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Tasting Notes

Ripe, bright, and playful, this Pinot Noir showcases the boisterous charisma of the Russian River Valley’s unique climate and terroir. Candied apple notes pop from the glass as a vibrant expression of tart Bing cherry, Marcona almond, and savory pie spice round out the middle. A lively acidity enhances the intensity of the fruit while still maintaining a delicate mouthfeel and elegant finish.

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season started out wet with record-breaking rainfall after several dry years. A mild spring led to a timely bud break and good fruit set, followed by ideal conditions of cool mornings and warm, sunny days throughout the summer months. A few days of intense heat at the beginning of September sped up ripening throughout the region. Well-timed picks meant the majority of the fruit was in by the first week of October. Beautiful color, well-defined aromatics, and outstanding flavor are all evident in this year’s vintage.

Vineyard Notes

The fruit for this Pinot Noir is sourced from sustainable vineyards found throughout the Russian River Valley AVA. Dense redwood forests trap heat during the day and channel cool sea breezes off the Pacific Coast in the evenings. This temperature fluctuation strengthens the skins and helps set optimum sugar levels.

Winemaker Notes

The grapes are carefully hand-sorted and destemmed as whole berries after harvesting. The fruit is then collected into open-top fermentors allowing the skins to impart color and tannin to the naturally free-run juice. Small bladder punch-downs are applied 2-3 times daily for a total of 21 days with skins intact. Some natural malolactic fermentation does take place during the barrel aging process.