Product Review
The 2012 vintage was pretty much perfect weather-wise. Moderate temperatures allowed the grapes to ripen evenly, and unlike in 2011, there was no rain in the fall to threaten harvest. We learned from the 2011 vintage that our vineyards are capable of producing incredibly elegant and balanced wines when the fruit is picked a little earlier, so we made the decision to pick about 3 weeks earlier than everyone else did in 2012. The resulting Pinot Noir is incredibly complex, with savory flavors dominating. The 2012 Pinot Noir is very pale purple in color, with ruby at the rim. The nose shows enticing aromas of cherry, cranberry, and just a hint of briar or dried herb. The palate shows more cherry, with layers of berry, very fresh plum, sage and espresso joining in to create a lively, spicy finish. More savory than sweet, with almost a gamey note, this Pinot shows the complex flavors that this grape is capable of, flavors which go beyond juicy fruit and provide greater depth.
Pinot Noir is responsible for some of the world’s finest wines. Famed for producing the red wines of Burgundy and the Côte d’Or in particular, it is now widely grown in cool climates across Califonia and Oregon, and with increasing success in New Zealand. Although typically used to produce varietal wines, Pinot Noir makes a significant contribution in the wines of Champagne, where it is vinified as a white wine and blended with Cardonnay and Pinot Meunier. On the whole, fresh summer fruit of strawberries, raspberries and red cherries tend to be the identifying qualities, however richer versions express darker fruit including black cherries (kirsch), cherry cola, leather and violets to name a few.
California is one of the most diverse wine producing regions of the world. Although it has a history spanning over 200 years, it has experienced most of its growth in the last fifty years. The regions of Napa Valley and Sonoma County have become as renowned as France’s Bordeaux and Burgundy. While Cabernet Sauvignon, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay are by far the most popular fine wine varieties, producers in the Golden State have also experimented with an unparalleled array of diverse varieties, including Zinfandel, Syrah, Nebbiolo, Sangiovese, and Tempranillo.
With a wide range of climate and soils reflected in its 13 AVAs (as of 2012), Sonoma County could almost be considered a whole wine country within itself. It is one of the largest wine regions and significantly overshadows Napa in terms of quantity produced. The main AVAs include: Alexander Valley and Dry Creek, known for good Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel; Knights Valley and Sonoma Mountain, for its Cabernet Sauvignon; and Russian River Valley, Sonoma Coast, Sonoma Mountain, for their Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
Red wine is wine made from dark-coloured grape varieties. The color of red differs based on the grapes variety or varieties used.Interestingly, black grapes yield a juice that is greenish-white. The actual red color comes from anthocyan pigments (also called anthocyanins) from the skin of the grape (exceptions are the relatively uncommon teinturier varieties, which produce a red colored juice). Most of the production centers around the extraction of color and flavor from the grape skin.
