2006 Litton Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
Winemaker's Notes
Abundant aromas of Maraschino cherry, cola, blackberry, hazelnut and crème brûlée fill your glass. Deeply concentrated tannins coat your palate with flavors of sweet red berry preserves, candied rose, nutmeg and mineral. The wine finishes gripping and very long. A fleshy and rich style of pinot from this Estate vineyard, the wine will develop well with several more years of further cellaring to really capture the true expression of this site.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyard
Our Litton Estate Vineyard is nestled in the heart of the Russian River Valley, half a mile south of the winery on Westside Road. With an opportunity to plant to our exact specifications, we selected clones of Pommard, Swan, 777 Dijon, Mt. Eden (UCD 37) and 828 Dijon, and chose five different root stocks to match the soil types. The vines are positioned northeast to southwest to allow for even exposure to the summer sun.
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: | 75% new, 25% 1-year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 18 months |
| pH: | 3.49 |
| TA: | 0.56g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 14.1% |
| Release Date: | Fall 2008 |
| Release Price: | $100 |