Nose
The 2016 Fraenkle Cheshier Vineyard Pinot Noir offers seductive
aromas of black cherry pie, fraise du bois, rhubarb, winter spice and a lingering touch of lavender.
Palate
Mouth filling flavors of crushed raspberry, slate-like minerality, and cranberry acid juiciness deliver
exquisite tension, bringing focus to the dense core of opulent fruit.
Growing Conditions
Relative to the preceding three years, the 2016 growing season was notably cooler, with lower than
average daytime highs and colder nights. Though harvest commenced a week earlier than typical, the
weather remained stable throughout the ripening phase with no significant heat spikes. The result was
balanced fruit of optimal quality and a short harvest period, concluding within a two to three-week
timeline.
Clonal selection: 777
Harvest
Hand-sorted while still cold from the field.
Bottling
Bottled unfined and unfiltered; January 2018.
Winemaking
14% whole cluster inclusion
Fermented in small, open-top stainless steel tanks with indigenous yeasts
5 day cold soak, 15 day maceration
Gentle punchdowns
Spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrel
Aging
Aged 15 months in French oak barrels; 58% new.
Coopers: Cadus, Damy, Francois Frères, Remond
Appearance
A striking Pyrope garnet in the glass.
Food Pairing
Allow this wine to take center stage
by pairing with a nutty, aged goat cheese and charcuterie plate, or vegetable tart with wild mushrooms
and roasted fig. Serve at 50°-55° F.