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2005 Preston Ranch Pinot Noir
2005 Pinot Noir, Clone 115, Preston Ranch, Russian River Valley
The 2005 Vintage was notably cooler than the the 2003 and 2004. Grapes for this single clone selection were harvested on September 12 at 25 Brix. The early morning pick meant cool fruit that could be cold-soaked for a slow extraction of fruity aroma esters and bright color. The must was yeasted with Assmanhausen on September 15, a great strain for Pinot because it ferments quickly once it gets started and has a stabilizing effect on Pinot color.

Following 17 days on skins, the ferment was pressed off on September 27th and barreled down with malolactic bacteria in Francois barrels and Damy barrels (40% new). By November, the bacterial fermentation was completed, giving the young wine a faint hazelnut aroma and softening its texture. Stirring every 2-4 weeks continued until July, when the wine was gelatin fined and then racked and blended for bottling on August 8. 2006. Only 357 cases were produced.

Pinot Noir Clone 115 in this rather cooler vintage has yielded a young wine of finesse and great structure. Fruit is tightly focused on berry rather than cherry notes. Expansive chewy tannins fill the mouth while ample fruit flavors of berry-cherry vie with toasty oak. This is not yet a sipper; it cries out for food to accompany its long oak finish. After more than a year in the bottle, it’s just beginning to open up and reveal its potential as a truly powerful and aging worthy Pinot Noir.
$35.00/Bottle; 15% case discount
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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 disount
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2003 Keefer Ranch Pinot Noir
2003 Pinot Noir, Keefer Ranch, Russian River Valley
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$45.00/Bottle