COMPOSITION: 100% Estate grown Pinot Noir; 5 clones (Pommard, Dijon 114 & 115, swan and "R" clone)

TA: 5.7 g/L
pH: 3.79
ALCOHOL: 14.5%
AGING: 12 months French Oak barrels; 10% new oak.
PRODUCTION:  270

WINEMAKER NOTES:

Tasting Notes: The color of this wine is a rich blend of ruby red and garnet. On the nose, this wine leads with dark red fruit like black cherry, and velvety vanilla. The palate delivers a silky feel with black cherry and rich strawberry, that give way to earthy flavors that remind us of candy cap mushrooms. The tannins in this wine are soft, likened to a short steeped black tea, while acidity remains quite good. This wine is medium-bodied, with a long and creamy finish.

Though young, this Pinot Noir possesses great aging potential. Drink now, or lay down for 7-10 years. The 2019 Pinot Noir is young but well suited for decanting, which will allow its complex flavors and nuances to fully unfold.

VINTAGE NOTES:

Famed Napa Valley winemaker Cathy Corison summed it up by saying “The 2019 growing season was blissfully unremarkable with a long, cool finish resulting in firm structure wrapped in juicy, complex fruit.”

In farming, nothing beats a boring year. And 2019 was a boring year - no weather anomalies, no extremes, no fires, no surprises arrived in the Napa Valley in 2019.

The season began with abundant rainfall in the winter months. And then throughout spring and early summer, we received mostly breezy, sun-soaked afternoons marked by low humidity. As late summer arrived, we maintained relatively mild conditions, which allowed for extended hang time, preserving the fruit's freshness and finesse. The Pinot Noir harvest commenced on September 19th, bringing a gentle conclusion to the season. The pick went smoothly and we brought in a total of 16 tons of Pinot Noir -- a perfectly average yield from our 8-acre vineyard. The quality fruit of the fruit was outstanding, indicating a highly promising vintage.

PRODUCTION NOTES:

Harvest started on September 19, 2019. Grapes were delivered to winery, destemmed, and pumped into stainless-steel tanks to begin a 14-day fermentation on skin and seeds. Wine is fermented dry and then pressed before being pumped into French Oak barrels to finish malolactic fermentation and begin aging. After 3 months in barrel, we select a limited number of barrels showing exceptional flavors and finesse to be part of our 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir program. A portion of the Reserve wine is racked into New French Oak barrels over the 12-month aging period. Wine is racked off of the lees three times over 12 months before being blended and bottled.

FOOD PAIRINGS:

Pairs well with cheeses like brie, gouda, gruyere, and chèvre. Serve with meats such as duck, lamb, and chicken. Vegetarians should try pairing this wine with eggplant parmesan, mushroom risotto, and a tomato-based vegetable stew. Very tasty with milk chocolate, and fruit or nut-based desserts, especially desserts that include blueberry, blackberry, raspberry, or cherries.

Retail Price: $65.00
Case Price (12 bottles): $780.00

Club Member Price: $55.25
Club Member Case Price (12 bottles): $663.00

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