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2005 Pinot Noir, Sonoma Valley
Released
May 2010, 266 cases produced
Internet-Direct Price: $45.00 / 750 mL bottle
Late frost and stormy weather during set of Pinot Noir in Sonoma Valley in the 2005 vintage really hammered the crop size. At the beginning of the year we were contracted for enough fruit from our Sonoma growers to yield 11-15 barrels from each vineyard. Harvest was so light that we ended up with just two barrels of Nicholson Ranch Vineyard Pinot (all clone 777; there was no clone 115 fruit available for us). We ended up with just five barrels of Los Carneros Pinot (clones 114, 115, 667 & 777). Our Annadel Estate Vineyard - clones 115 & 667 - was expected to give us at least twelve barrels; we got just four.
Fortunately a blend of the wines from these three unique vineyards was equal or greater than the sum of its parts. So we made the blend - all Dijon clones. The earthy component came from a cool, windy site with deep clay-loam soil (Los Carneros), depth and structure from a warmer site on a shallow sandy ash (Nicholson) and beautiful spicy aromatics from a cold site with a very rocky soil (Annadel).
Winemaker's tasting notes:
In the glass the wine shows a medium garnet-red color and good clarity. The aromas open to pomegranate and cherry, with overtones of earth, briar, oak, dried cranberry, orange rind and sage. In the mouth the wine shows medium body and a complex fruity and spicy palate, great acid structure balanced with grippy tannins, and a long woodsy-earthy finish. This 2005 Sonoma Valley Pinot is a one-time blend of our top-tier single vineyards. The wine is youthful, closed and disjointed at this early period in its development - rewarding to drink now but definitely worthy of longer bottle age.
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In 2005 weather in our Valley reduced the crop size. Our 2005 Sonoma Valley Pinot is a one-time-only blend of our top-tier single vineyards, including the first crop off our Annadel Estate - happily equal to or greater than the sum of its parts.
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