2006 Central Coast Pinot Noir
Winemaker's Notes
Ripe fruit aromas offer a perfumed nose of Maraschino cherries, wild berry, white truffle, cardamom, anise and green tea. I find that the ripe and rich tannins carry long through the finish. Balanced acidity and breadth of grape tannin help complete the forward fruitiness. A wonderful growing season in the Central Coast.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyards
100% Estate Vista Verde Vineyard, located a couple miles southeast of Hollister, California, near the small town of Tres Pinos in San Benito County. This heavy limestone vineyard is separated into eight blocks that include clones such as Pommard, Calera, Canada, 115, 777, 828 and 943.
Harvest 2006
The 2006 grape growing season was characterized by weather extremes. The unusually cool and wet weather of the early spring caused a late start to the 2006 Harvest. Challenged by the prolonged and excessive July heat spikes followed by more moisture, the vines required attentive care. Cool coastal weather returned in August, mitigating the effect of the hot summer and permitting a long hang time for optimal fruit maturity and a controlled pace for ideal picking. Grape clusters were unusually large, resulting in a generous crop load.
Winemaking for the vintage was focused on meticulous fruit sorting and concentrating flavors, resulting in wines of fullness and length. Our Pinot noirs across growing regions have fruitiness of intensity and purity; our Russian River Zinfandels are ripe and typically powerful; our Russian River Chardonnays are particularly aromatic and finely structured.
Technical Notes
| Barrel Description: | 35% new, 35% 1-year-old, 29% 2-year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 10 months |
| pH: | 3.49 |
| TA: | 0.62g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 13.9% |
| Release Date: | Spring 2008 |
| Release Price: | $31 |