The fruit for our Pinot Noir comes from four growers spread over the northern area of the Russian River Valley. The Frank Johnson Vineyard continues as a source of Pinot Noir, spanning 30 years, and is combined with three other growers: Harrich, Lynzabeth, and Brooks, all within a few miles of each other. Pinot Noir grown in the cool climate of the Russian River Valley in Sonoma County is regularly influenced by the intrusion of cooling evening fog from the Pacific Ocean a few miles to the west. This natural air-conditioning allows the grapes to develop full flavor maturity over an extended growing season while retaining the all-important natural acidity. Combined with a diverse complexity of soil types along with the vineyard sources creates a wine that reflects all the best of this growing region. The 2016 growing season brought plenty of rain to the vineyards and perfect growing conditions followed during summer with even heat and great ripening environment. The grapes were harvested over the first week of September.

Destemmed and crushed grapes go to temperature controlled fermenter for 5 days of cold soaking at -50F (pre-fermentation) with a daily pump over for extraction of color, aromatics and tannins. After that period fermentation starts. Fermenting at -75F to better extract the aromatics of the Pinot Noir fruit, during fermentation we have a regime of three pump overs a day to achieve the right extraction, until dry. Then pressed and sent to storage tanks and later moved to barrels for aging. The round and polished texture of this wine comes not only from the high quality fruit but also judicious use of oak—the wine was aged for 8 months in small French oak barrels with 25% new oak.

Aromas of rose petals, pomegranate and nutmeg greet the nose. Flavors follow with strawberry and black plum, toasty oak notes framed by bright acidity. Light bodied, smooth with a long finish and balanced with mild tannins. An elegant and tasteful Pinot Noir.

APPELLATION: Russian River Valley
BARREL AGING: 8 months in French Oak barrels
ALCOHOL 13.8%
pH 3.85
TOTAL ACIDITY .650g/100mg