2009 Pinot Noir

The Wine
The aroma will let you believe you are about to indulge in a glass of chocolate covered cherries. Rich, spiced black fruit, plum, and cherry are integrated with hints of vanilla, sweet tobacco, and smoke. As the wine opens, it becomes brighter with beautiful red fruit flavors enhanced by accents of vanilla, clove and toasty oak with a long and rich finish.

The Winemaking
Our winemaker started harvest right at the end of September before the challenging rains arrived in late October. Various Pinot Noir clones from the Champlin Creek vineyard were blended to add complexity. This wine is open top fermented punched down 4 times daily. Then barrel aged in 60% new French oak for 10 months. The wine was kept in a reduced state to maintain fruit and was never racked until bottling.

The Vineyard
Our 2009 Pinot Noir was grown in the rolling hills of Carneros. Cool westerly winds move through the canopy conditioning the fruit and extending the hang time to maximize ripeness.

Additional Resources
Label  | Notes  | Talker