2007 Preston Ranch Pinot Noir
2007 Pinot Noir, 3 Clone, Preston Ranch,
Russian River Valley
On August 26, 2007 we hand-picked and blended equal amounts of Clones 115, 667, and 777. The crushed grapes or must was mixed with dry ice to enable a cold soak for three days before inoculation with Assmanhausen yeast. By September 1, the fermentation was beginning, the cap rising, and the temperature increasing. Now it was time for punch downs, to submerge the skins in the warm, bubbly juice to extract flavors and color from the skins. Fermentation was over on September 12, when the young wine was drained, pressed and barreled in a single day. Malo-lactic fermentation completed two months later. The wine was left to age on the primary lees, with regular stirring at 3-4 week intervals. Ultimately, the wine’s texture and mouthfeel depend on this laborious process. The 2007 was an explosion of red cherry fruit from the day it was harvested. Eleven months in Remond and Sirugue French oak barrels has tempered forward fruit with toasty oak. As the wine matures in bottle, complexities of spice abound. This is a round, rich, chewy Pinot.

Available as part of a vertical selection only.

 

2006 Preston Ranch Pinot Noir
2006 Pinot Noir, Clone 115 & 777, Preston Ranch,
Russian River Valley
I’ve been making Pinot Noir from Preston Ranch from 2004-2008. The 2006 vintage, with a harvest date September 20th, has been the latest pick date. Everything was late ripening in 2006 because of a very wet, cool spring season that was more reminiscent of Burgundy than California. And as in Burgundy, the Dijon Clones are best when ripened slowly and evenly, without temperature spikes. The resulting wine is beautifully colored and deliciously oaked, has a creamy texture that lingers on the tongue, and the bright, strawberry/cherry fruit of a cold climate Pinot. Aged 10 months in Remond and Sirugue barrels. 434 cases produced.
$35.00/Bottle; 15% case discount.

 

2005 Preston Ranch Pinot Noir
2005 Pinot Noir, Clone 115, Preston Ranch,
Russian River Valley
The 2005 vintage was notably cooler than either 2004 or 2003. Grapes for this single clone selection were harvested on September 12 at 25 Brix. The early morning pick meant working with cool fruit that could be cold-soaked for a slow extraction of fruity aroma esters and bright color. Following 17 days of fermentation and skin contact, the ferment was pressed off and barreled down with malo-lactic bacteria in Francois and Damy French oak barrels. By November, the bacterial fermentation was completed, giving the young wine a faint hazelnut aroma and softening its texture. Regular lees stirring continued through July, when the wine was gelatin fined, racked, and all barrels blended for bottling in early August. Only 357 cases were produced for the vintage. The cool growing season has yielded a wine with great structure and finesse. The oak flavor subtly underplays the berry-cherry fruit, as the oak tannin complements the grape tannin to give the wine its backbone. Imminently ageable, the 2005 is at its peak in 2009 and should remain there into the next decade.
$40/bottle; 15% case discount.

 

2004 Russian River Cuvee is Available Now!
2004 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Cuvee
I’m fortunate to give each vintage of Pinot at least 12 months of bottle age prior to release. Perhaps more than any other varietal except Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot seems to need the time in bottle for the texture to knit together and for the fruit and oak characters to begin to meld into a seamless whole. The 2004 is silky and richly extracted. Swirling this beautiful garnet colored wine releases aromas of cigar box spice, sandalwood, chocolate, and dried cherries. Lovely flavors of cherry jam, violet perfume and perfectly toasted oak trip lightly across the palate. Each swirl wafts more exotic spice from the glass. A very complex young wine, the 2004 Russian River Cuvee is ready for release in August 2006.
$40.00/Bottle; 15% case discount
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2003 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir
2003 Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch, Russian River Valley
Sold out!
$45.00/Bottle