2006 Vista Verde Vineyard Pinot Noir
Winemaker's Notes
An excellent vintage from our Estate vineyards near Mt.Harlan. Aromas of cherry pie, strawberry jam, mocha and dried herbs dominate the nose. This wine shows richer and broader tannins than the 2005 version, with overall better concentration and depth of fruit. A long finish of silky cherry and creamy oak completes this wine.
—Winemaker Bob Cabral
The Vineyard
Vista Verde Vineyard is 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 blocks that include clones such as Calera, Canada, and Pommard.
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: | 67% new, 33% 1-year-old |
|---|---|
| Barrel Aged: | 15 months |
| pH: | 3.49 |
| TA: | 0.62g/100ml |
| Alc.: | 14.0% |
| Release Date: | Fall 2008 |
| Release Price: | $54 |