2004 Flax Vineyard Pinot Noir
Winemaker's Notes
Wild blackberry, boysenberry, plum, sassafras and earthy aromas volatilize from the glass. This wine shows richer and broader tannins than the 2003 version, with better overall concentration and depth of fruit. Spicy flavors and a focus of black fruits develop nicely across your palate.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyard
Flax Vineyard is located just south of our winemaking facility, in the Russian River Valley. Three blocks totaling 9 acres make up this unique vineyard. Planted in 1996, the UCD4 (Pommard) clonal selection on 3309P rootstock seems to have found a home in the fractured sandstone soils of this region.
Harvest 2004
A hot spell in March followed by a warm spring influenced an unusually early bloom and budbreak. This precocious start, followed by a growing season of moderate temperatures, resulted in a very early harvest. Although we harvested the grapes two to three weeks earlier than normal, the long season provided ample time for the fruit to reach full maturity and develop extraordinary color and intense flavors. A cooling trend in mid-September offered the Chardonnay additional hang time prior to harvest.
Technical Notes
| Barrel Description: | 65% new, 35% 1-year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 17 months |
| pH: | 3.46 |
| TA: | 0.59g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 14.4% |
| Release Date: | Fall 2006 |
| Release Price: | $54 |