Varietal

100% Pinot Noir

Winemaker's Notes

We’re doing it again! Not many California winemakers produce single-clone wines, and this one turned out to be one of the best we’ve ever produced. The 2007 vintage promises to be one of the best ever. After tasting the Pommard Clones from two of our vineyards, the Leras Family Vineyards off Woolsey Road in Russian River Valley and the Peters Vineyard just outside of Sebastopol, we knew they were special. Each had the best characteristics of the Pommard Clone; deep flavors with rich mouthfeel, and vibrant flavors unique to each site. While at first blending them was an experiment, we were so pleased with the results that we cherry-picked the best three barrels from each lot and bottled them. As with all of our Pinot Noir, we cold-soaked the grapes for three to four days and then introduced select yeasts. Once fermentation began, we hand-punched the must in open-top fermenters at least four times a day to keep the temperature and oxygen at the right levels for the yeast to remain active. Once fermentation was over, the wine was gently pressed and aged for 12 months in François Frères oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Medium ruby red color. A very seductive nose of ripe and vibrant cherry, spice and earthiness with very complex flavors of luscious, rich ripe cherry, spice and sweet oak. This wine has terrific balance and structure with a long silky smooth finish of cherry, plum and spice. It just doesn’t get much better than this.

Clone

Pommard

Appellation

Russian River Valley

Harvest Date

9/8-22/07

Harvest Brix

24.5° - 25°

Alcohol

14.5%

Total Acid

0.614g/100ml

pH

3.7

Residual Sugar

Dry

Cooperage

11 months in François Frères French oak, 90% new, 10% 1 year-old barrels

Bottled

8/8/2008

Release Date

Fall 2009

Production

430 cases 750 ml

Winemaker

Ben Papapietro

Price: 750ml

$70

Price: Magnum

$150

Availability: 375ml

NO

Availability: 750ml

SOLD OUT

Availability: Magnum

SOLD OUT

Tasting Notes (PDF)

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