Russian Hill Estate Winery Pinot Noir Russian River Valley Estate Grown Tara Vineyard 2005

Winemaker's Notes:

After sorting, the grapes were gently destemmed into small, custom designed open top fermenters and kept below 50°F for a five day cold soak. Tanks were then individually warmed to allow fermentation to take place in a timely manner followed by cooling as needed to maintain temperatures below 85°F. Thrice daily pneumatic punch downs took place during the cold soak and fermentation. Once dry, the wine was gently pressed in a membrane press keeping free run and press fractions separate. Malolactic fermentation took place in oak barrels. Adjacent to our winery, Tara Vineyard is on the lower, easterly facing slope of the hill. The vineyard was planted in 1998 with 4453 rootstock and later field budded to Dijon clone 115. The soil in this area has a dark charcoal hue without the river rock so prominent in our adjacent Syrah blocks. The vines have slowly been brought to maturity and irrigation is minimized to ensure concentration of flavors and eventual dry farming. A big, rich nose heralds the dark fruit and spice flavors to follow. On the palate, the wine is as silky as butter with lush flavors of black cherry, plum, cocoa butter and toasty vanilla. 96 pts, PinotReport: "rich and complex, this Pinot is full of layered flavor" 1 puff, Connoisseurs' Guide: "is at once both rich and fairly pert in manner" Gold Medal, American Fine Wine Competition The 2005 growing season began late, after a somewhat prolonged winter, and was remarkable for unseasonably cool, foggy weather through much of the season. The month of May was the wettest in recorded history and rain even persisted into June. Crop set was variable depending on local weather conditions at the time of bloom. There was seemingly no summer with only two minor "warm" spells, one each in July and August. The persistent cool weather in 2005 caused multiple delays in picking and a very staggered harvest. Months in barrel: 16 Oak: 100% French