2000 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
Vintage
2000
Price
$22
Release Date
November 2002
Appellation
Sonoma County
Availability
Select Markets Nationally
Vineyards
- Sonoma County - Sterling, Little, Alta Vista, Sangiacomo & Ricci Vineyards
- Santa Maria Valley - Bien Nacido
Download
- Wine Notes [.pdf 17k]
Vintage
Vintage 2000 provided us with excellent fruit. The growing season began with the warmest winter on record, which gave way to a very warm spring punctuated by a record heat spell in mid June. The warm weather moved us two to three weeks ahead of schedule. A more temperate summer followed, allowing the grapes to ripen evenly. The long, drawn out harvest yielded extremely high quality fruit giving us wine with tremendous body and texture.
Vinification
Grapes from cooler locations - Sonoma Coast, Carneros, and Santa Maria Valley - tend to yeield lower tonnage producing only the most intense fruit. The majority of the lots were cold soaked for two to three days, fermented in closed fermenters and pumped over two to three times per day. The fermentations lasted 12 to 20 days at temperatures in the low 80's to low 90's. Wines were aged in American and French oak for at least 15 months. In the summer of 2001 a base blend representing about 60% of the final blend was racked, blended and returned to barrel until final assemblage in February 2002 for bottling in March 2002. Alcohol 13.5%, Total acidity .54, pH 3.71, Residual sugar, .06.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of cherry and sweet earth give way to flavors of spicy plum and dried herbs. The wine shows a rich middle mouthfeel, a smooth structure and a Hi long finish. A harmonious complement to many foods, our 2000 Pinot Noir drinks well upon release and for up to 5 years.