Winemaker Notes

Our very first vintage of wine! Minimal sulfur is used throughout the wines aging, with final total sulfur levels less than 58 ppm. Free sulfur was at about 22 ppm at bottling. pH at bottling was 3.69 with a TA of 6.3 and VA was 0.76 g/l. Alcohol was measured to be 14.5 alc/vol. Lots were inoculated using Melody yeast (by CH Hansen). Fermentation saw maximal temperatures of 86 degrees. Malolactic fermentation was allowed to happen naturally and was complete by January 2013. Wine was aged in a third new French oak and the rest used French oak 288L barrels. Wine was aged for 11 months with a monthly batonage. 

Vineyards

The 2012 Russian River Valley Pinot Noir was produced using fruit from three vineyards in the AVA: Moore Family vineyard,  Sullivan vineyard, and Fulton Road Vineyard. Each vineyard had very different fruit characteristics that helped add to the overall complexity of the blend. 

Technical Notes

Barrel Description: 33% new French Oak, 77% once used French Oak,  Rousseau cooperages
Barrel aging: 11 months on the lees, with a monthly stirring
Variety: 100% Pinot Noir
Clones: 777, 667
pH: 3.69
TA: 5.9 g/L
Alc: 14.5%
VA: 0.70 g/L