With a mild summer and long, dry ripening season, 2020 in Sonoma County mirrored 2015. Both years had a naturally light crop with relatively smaller berries and clusters, resulting in greater concentration.
Harvested on September 28, 2020, the crop was fermented in a 1.5 ton fermenter with 30% of the fruit left whole cluster and added to the bottom of the tank first. The rest was de-stemmed then tipped on top. The fruit was left to cold soak until the onset of indigenous, primary fermentation. Punchdowns ensued up to three times daily during peak fermentation then slowed to once a day below 10 Brix. The wine went dry a few days later and was then left to go through Malolactic fermentation indigenously as well. The wine was aged in neutral oak barrels from the Tronçais forest in central France; Sixty days before bottling the wine was racked off of its fermentation lees to help it settle. All wine movements were accomplished by gravity including bottling in April 2021.
Sourced exclusively from our Vines and Roses Estate on Olivet Road in the central Russian River Valley. The rows that make up this wine are planted to the Calera and Eden pinot clones.
“Deep purple/red in the glass, the nose is rich with ripe, black fruit, baking spices, and a touch of tea. The mouth-filling palette follows with layers of black cherry reduction, dried fig, and notes of hibiscus and cinnamon. The finish is soft, supple, and satisfyingly long. In all, this Burgundian style Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is a perfect example of what this Vines and Roses Estate vineyard is capable of.
– Winemaker Dan Fitzgerald