2018 Pinot Noir Russian River Valley
Burnside Vineyard
168 cases
ABV 13.8%, pH 3.66, TA 5.8 g/L
100% French oak; 35% new; 14 months in barrel
Opulent ruby-garnet color. The aromas are layered with Bing cherry, raspberry and plum and soft floral notes surrounded by subtle spice from integrated French oak barrel aging. On the palate, the acidity is firm and balanced with fine-grained tannins and weight with a silky mount feel. The finish is long and invites another sip. 2018 was a copious vintage with ideal weather, we had to drop fruit 3 passes to balance the crop on the fruiting wire.
Fruit was rigorously hand sorted and fully destemmed with no crushing. Moderate cold soaks (4-5 days), warm fermentations (85-90° F), and minimal punchdowns were done this year in order to adapt to what nature provides. Total skin contact ranged from 11-18 days with all fermentations being carefully basket pressed and put to barrel on full fermentation lees for ML. Racking was minimal with only one base blend being done in the spring to allow the new wine to “marry” in barrel before bottling. Native yeast and ML with only small lots conducted using cultured burgundy isolates.
