2005 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir
Winemaker's Notes
A pleasurable blend to assemble, with more than 80% of the fruit coming from our Drake Estate Vineyard in Guerneville. The Pommard clone predominant in this blend is reminiscent of blackberries, plums, cloves, black truffle, cola and crème brûlée. The rich and broad tannins accentuate blackberry-plummy fruits and complement the creamy, silky, yet fat finish and concentrated berry /spicy flavors. I believe this wine truly expresses the classic finesse and sexiness that you should expect from a Russian River Valley pinot noir.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyards
The pinot noir for this blend was sourced from our Drake Estate Vineyard, the Allen Vineyard, the Flax Vineyard, the Rochioli Riverblock Vineyard, the Bucher Vineyard, and our Litton Estate Vineyard.
Harvest 2005
Following a labor-intensive growing season due to early spring rains, a cool summer and mild fall weather extended the ripening season in 2005. This long, slow maturation period permitted flavors and color to develop to high levels, and the absence of weather threats or temperature extremes allowed fruit to be picked at optimum ripeness. The fruit quality was extremely high, contributing to balanced and elegant wines with concentrated flavors and intense color.
Technical Notes
| Barrel Description: | 40% new, 30% 1-year-old, 30% 2-year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 10 months |
| pH: | 3.59 |
| TA: | 0.59g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 13.8% |
| Release Date: | Spring 2007 |
| Release Price: | $42 |