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VINTAGE NOTES
2007 Pinot Noir
SANTA MARIA VALLEY
VARIETAL 100% Pinot Noir
APPELLATION Santa Maria Valley
VINEYARDS Garey & Goodchild
HARVEST September 9 & 12, 2007
OAK AGING 16 months
T.A. 6.3g/L
PH 3.35
ALCOHOL 13.8%
BOTTLING DATE January 20, 2009
PRODUCTION 1162 cases
HARVEST
Santa Barbara County saw an unusually warm summer following a very dry spring with no rainfall after February. These climate conditions along with a light crop accelerated maturity. Harvest began earlier than normal and a heat wave in early September pushed grapes to ripeness. Small berry size and low cluster numbers along with the ideal summer growing conditions produced fruit of superb quality.
VINEYARD
The Garey Vineyard was planted in 1998 by the Robert Mondavi Winery in the heart of Santa Maria Valley. The terroir is one of gently rolling slopes with sandy loam soils. The clones for this wine are Dijon 115 and 777. The Goodchild Vineyard is one of the original Pinot Noir vineyards in the Sisquoc Region of Santa Maria Valley owned by Louie Lucas. The clones for this wine are Dijon 115 and Pommard.
WINEMAKING
Pinot Noir grapes were hand harvested into half-ton bins and crushed into small temperature-controlled tanks. Following a two-day cold soak that promoted excellent extraction of color, aroma and flavor, the lots were inoculated with Assmanshausen yeast to initiate the primary fermentation. Additional extraction was achieved by gently pumping over the wine three times daily. After pressing, the wine was transferred to small French oak barrels, including 40% new oak, where it aged for 16 months.
TASTING NOTES
This vibrant Pinot Noir has enticing aromas of rose petals, cherry, toasted oak, lightly roasted coffee and cola. A velvety mouth feel leads to a full, rich, lingering finish.
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