Palate

The Brown Ranch Pinot Noir is a rich, concentrated Pinot Noir. It shows dark flavors and a characteristic ‘Pinot Funk’, an earthy quality that is often shown by the Pommard clone. The tannins are present yet refined and balanced with acidity. This wine is consistently the biggest and most concentrated of all the Starmont Pinot Noir programs, showing rich dense flavors and mouthfeel.

Winemaking

Handpicked on September 10th at Brown Ranch in Carneros, these grapes were carefully sorted in the field and at the winery. Fermented in an open top tank afrer a 5-day cold soak, the wine underwent a 7-day native primary fermentation with one day extended maceration. It was racked twice and spent 9 months on primary lees and another 9 months on light lees. This is a 10-barrel blend, all of which was aged in 100% French oak barrels, half of which were new, with 40% used once and 10% twice-used. Careful attention is taken to match oak and toast to the vineyard and wine traits—restrained to push the fruit’s character forward and respect the vineyard site. Comprised entirely of Pommard Clone, just 235 cases were produced and with proper cellaring the wine will drink well for the next 5+ years. The wine was bottled without fining.

Aging

100% French oak barrels, half of which were new, with 40% used once and 10% twice-used.