2003 Grand Bouquet Pinot Noir
Tasting Notes
Black cherry, cassis and raspberries dominate the aroma of this new blend's intense and complex bouquet. Notes of caramel, toasted nuts, earth, and fennel follow the initial fruit. The wine's flavors are concentrated and enticing with blackberry and plum. The finish is smooth and round with an unmistakable veil of fruity flavor and rich mouth feel which lingers. Drink now or cellar for 2-3 years.
Vineyards
A barrel selection from our estate vineyards; Camp Meeting Ridge, Frances Thompson, Nobles (Haupt Creek Vineyard), and Keefer Ranch. Clones are comprised of the older traditional California selections of Martini, 2A, and Pommard complemented by the more recently available Dijon clones (113, 114, 115, 667, 777) as well as low vigor selections from the Swan and Calera vineyards.
Harvest
Early September 2003
Winemaking
Fruit was rigorously hand sorted and fully destemmed with no crushing. Moderate cold soaks (4-5 days), warm fermentations (85-90° F), and minimal punchdowns (twice a day or less) were done this year in order to adapt to what nature gave us. Total skin contact ranged from 11-18 days with all fermentations being carefully basket pressed and put to barrel on full fermentation lees for ML. Racking was minimal with only one assemblage being done in the spring to allow the blend to "marry" in barrel for a few months before bottling. Mostly native yeast and ML with only small lots conducted using cultured burgundy isolates.
Cooperage and Aging
100% French oak; 40% new. Time in barrel = 15 months.
Bottling
January 2005; 354 cases produced.
Final bottling technical information
- pH: 3.60
- TA: 0.61 g/100 ml
- Alcohol: 14.3%
Release Date
Spring 2005