Growing Conditions
The 200-acre Hyde Vineyard, considered one of California’s Grand Cru vineyards, includes one of the oldest blocks of Chardonnay grapes. Carneros has always been considered prime land for Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The shallower soil and cooler climates of Carneros result in smaller vines, grapes that turn into brighter, more ethereal wines.
2016 was another in a string of excellent vintages for Napa and Sonoma winemaking. Generous winter rains brought much-needed rainfall to saturate the root zones and replenish reservoirs. Moderate temperatures and bright sunshine enabled the vines to thrivethroughout the spring and summer, creating a balanced, optimal grow- ing pace. Warm days and cool nights during harvest season allowed ripening to progress at an even pace, resulting in wines that display complex fruit flavors and balanced acidity
Winemaking
Amici’s Hyde Pinot Noir is rich in color and aroma with black cherry, red raspberry and violet; earth notes. Balanced and textured with silky tannins and a multi-dimensional palate of ripe berries, cocoa nib, savory brown spice, forest floor and crushed stone, the 2016 shows concentration and delicacy, fruit and complexity, savory and sweet, a great representation of one of the most impressive vintages of the last decade.
Aging
13 months; 100% French Oak; 35% New
