2017 Trifecta Russian River Pinot Noir

The year began with abundant rainfall. Spring weather was mild, resulting in extended flowering in some areas with little shatter. Vines were vigorous.

A freak hailstorm passed through quickly in June causing isolated damage. Three heat events, including one over Labor Day weekend, kicked harvest into high gear, and fortunately our Pinot Noir grapes were harvested prior to this heat protecting the delicate flavors. A warmer growing season brings deeper and darker ripe bing cherry, pomegranate and mulberry aromas with notes of caramel, cola berry and sarsaparilla. Clove, and allspice round out the aromas of this very layered Pinot Noir. On the palate the bright and juicy ripe fruit tannins lead in to a rich and soft mid-palate texture where the darker fruit flavors linger before finishing with soft

Harvest Date: September 1st, 2017
Harvest Brix:  26.0° brix
Clonal Selections: Clone 777 and 828
Hand-harvested, picked at night
De-stemmed whole berry to tank
72 hour cold soak at 55° F
Fermented with indigenous yeast for 11 days with 14 days of total maceration
Free run drained by gravity for 12 hours and press fraction blended away
Aged: 12 months sur lie in French oak barrels, then racked 3 months prior to bottling
Coopers:  60% new French oak, Nadalie Medium Plus tight grain
Un-fined and lightly filtered

Bottled: April 2019