Cherry and strawberry jam permeates on the nose along with secondary aromas of violets, clove and cherry-cola. This is a weightier wine than in the past (vines were planted in 1970), with vibrant acidity and soft, rich tannins. Flavors of ripe strawberries, cherry pie, citrus blossom and spice are complimented by the toasty vanilla/crème brûlée-like texture. A wine that will easily age 5-7 years. —Director of Winemaking Bob Cabral
THE VINEYARD
The Allen Pinot Noir Vineyard surrounds our winemaking facility. This Russian River Valley hillside vineyard was planted in the early 1970s, and produces low yields of exceptional quality Pinot Noir.
HARVEST 2011
The 2011 vintage was marked by another cool year that produced wines with tremendous purity and depth. Similar in many ways to 2010, without the extremes, it had very low yields and below average cooler weather. But, the growing season in 2011 was much more consistent with gentle warming days and very cold summer nights. As a consequence, the vintage produced wines with incredible purity, remarkable acid and tannin balance, while expressing the uniqueness of each individual site and region. The signature of this vintage is one where the wines have bright fruit qualities, sound acidities and elegant tannin profiles. It is truly a vintage worth seeking.
TECHNICAL NOTES
Barrel Description: 67% new oak, 33% 1 year Barrel Aged: 14 months
pH: 3.48
TA: 0.63g/100mL
Alc: 14.1%
Released Fall 2013