1999 Reserve Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
Vintage
1999
Price
$37
Release Date
June 2002
Appellation
- 55% Santa Barbara County
- 45% Sonoma County
Availability
Select Markets Nationally
Vineyards
- Sonoma Valley - Little Vineyard
- Russian River Valley - Sterling Vineyard
- Santa Maria Valley - Bien Nacido Vineyards
Download
- Wine Notes [.pdf 24k]
Vintage
Each year, as part of our Reserve program, we select the best blocks from the best vineyards, which are then kept separate through the winemaking process until being selected, barrel-by-barrel, for the final blend. For growing seasons with unique personality, 1999 did not disappoint. We did see some hot weather but much less than normal. We had good weather for bud- break and bloom that helped insure a good set. Because of the late season, which creates the potential for fruit not to ripen - we employed judicious irrigation during the summer to control growth and uniformity and we crop thinned after verasion to aid in ripening. As we entered mid September (latest ever), we needed heat and got it. Once harvest began in earnest in late September things went very quickly, by October 23rd it was effectively over.
Vinification
Four lots of grapes were culled from these three vineyards and each was matched individually to the size and shape fermenter best suited to its development. All lots were cold soaked to extract maximum flavor with minimum tannin. Punch down and pump over routines were monitored and altered daily through the 8-13 day fermentation. The wine, still maintained in separate lots, was rushed to French oak shortly after pressing to finish secondary fermentation and was stirred weekly to intermittently to build middle mouthfeel and velvety texture. The wine received a total of 18 months barrel aging. The individual lots were blended, then bottled in June 2001. Alcohol: 13.5%, Total Acidity: .62, pH: 3.56, Residual Sugar: .06. Cases produced: 1,404.
Tasting Notes
Aromas are of black cherry, plum, herbs and spicy oak. The flavors are of red plum, berry, toffee and rich vanilla. Overall impression is of intensely ripe fruit. The mouthfeel/texture is medium bodied, creamy and velvety. The flavors carry through to a long finish.