2004 Precious Mountain Vineyard Pinot Noir
Winemaker's Notes
Complex perfume of wild cherries and raspberries, sweet roses, citrus blossom, Asian spice, green tea and toffee. In your mouth the ripe red berry flavors explode with a nice balance of acidity, morel mushrooms and espresso. The ripe, somewhat youthful tasting tannins are complemented by the concentration of fruit and long, succulent finish.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyard
Precious Mountain located in the Sonoma Coast appellation, sits atop the second mountain ridge in from the Pacific Coast, near Fort Ross. This is a very small vineyard planted on steep slopes at an altitude of 1,750 feet. At this altitude coastal breezes, not fog, are responsible for Precious Mountain's cool evenings and moderate daytime temperatures. The vineyard is dry farmed to produce intense flavors.
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: | 60% new, 40% 1-year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 16 months |
| pH: | 3.55 |
| TA: | 0.55g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 14.3% |
| Release Date: | Fall 2006 |
| Release Price: | $85 |