1998 Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes
Vibrant purple-red color. Aromas of dark cherry, bacon fat, smoky roast venison and late notes of ripe red raspberry. Great mouth-watering bright red fruit up front speaks of the natural acidity that our Camp Meeting Ridge estate and other coastal vineyards can yield. Savory spices of rosemary, thyme & anise carry the mid-palate into good clean acid on the finish fading late with red cherry. For our premiere release of Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir we drew from several vineyards to create a wine that is approachable now yet will continue to evolve. The result is suppleness with strength, yielding forward flavors while the cool-climate backbone will reward the patent Pinot enthusiast with 5 years or more of aging.
Facts
- Blend of 4 different vineyards having cool-climate terroir with good natural acidity and well-resolved tannin structure on the vine (if one waits patiently)! Proximity to the moderating influence of salt water means our vineyards break bud early and ripen slowly, allowing for long hang time without racing sugars.
- 100% native yeast & malolactic fermentations
- 25% new oak, 60% once-used; primarily François Freres with wood from Tronçais forest, generally high toast, toasted heads. Other coopers are all traditional Burgundy (Remond, Latour, Billon, Gillet, Cadus, Marsannay) Total time in barrel: 9 months
- Harvest: early October to early November
- Bottled unfined and unfiltered in late September 1999; 1196 cases produced
Final bottling technical information
- pH: 3.65
- TA: 7.0 g/L
- 13.9% alcohol
- Residual sugar: 0.50 g/L (very dry)