Nose
The nose is enticing and attractive, with distinctive, yet delicate, Pinot
Noir varietal character. Bright and lively fruit aromas of cherry, wild
berry and cassis are supported by layered earth and spice notes, as well
as hints of bramble, anise and toasted oak.
Palate
On the palate, this wine is
mouthfilling and smooth, with briary spice and generous ripe fruit.
Though lush and flavorful, there is also an elegance to this wine, with
toned acidity adding focus and depth to a complex, lingering finish.
Growing Conditions
We sourced the fruit from top cool-climate Sonoma County
vineyards, with 50 percent of the Pinot Noir coming from the fabled
Russian River Valley appellation, and the other 50 percent from one exceptional
vineyard in Franz Valley. The result is a fruit-driven expression
of Pinot Noir with abundant spicy berry and red fruit notes, as well
as refreshing acidity.
Harvest
In many ways, 2011 was more of a classic “Burgundian-style” growing
season than what we usually expect in California. The unusually mild
temperatures particularly favored cool-climate grapes like Pinot Noir
and Chardonnay, providing greatly extended hangtime, while still allowing
the fruit to preserve lovely natural acidity. Throughout the season,
we worked closely with our growers to thin the crop to appropriate
levels and opened up the canopy for more sun exposure. As a result,
our first blocks of Pinot Noir began coming in to the winery with perfect
ripeness on September 26—a week before the first rains. The few blocks
that were not harvested before the rain were allowed to remain on the
vine for five sunny days before being picked. The grapes were at ideal
maturity, producing dark colors and concentrated berry fruit elements.
To enhance their soft-tannined structure, we applied additional punch
downs and allowed more time on the skins
Aging
It was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels
and gently handled to preserve the delicate nuances of the Pinot Noir.
