Summary

Grapes sourced from Las Brisas Vineyard (Carneros), 100% 6-year-old vines
Hand harvested September 8 through 17, 2001 at an average 25.0 degrees Brix
25% whole cluster, 4 day soak, 9 day fermentation, 20 day post-fermentation maceration
100% new French oak barrels, aged for 14 months in barrel
81 cases produced
Retail price $40.00

This limited bottling, single vineyard Pinot Noir is dedicated to Kathy Polucha Kessler, whom we lost in an avalanche while backcountry skiing the day before this wine was bottled in January of 2003. Special wines come from unique vineyards that convey a sense of place and a unique identity, and much like people with their unique natures, cannot be replaced. Kathy is pictured above with her husband Scott Kessler.

The Truckee Donner Land Trust, www.tdlandtrust.org, is dedicated to preserving and protecting important recreational and scenic lands in the Truckee and North Tahoe area. A generous donation from the sale of this wine will fund and dedicate a bridge on the Donner Rim Trail in Kathy’s memory

Vineyards and Winemaking

This Pinot Noir was made with grapes sourced from the Las Brisas Vineyard, a special spot in the Carneros appellation that stands out due to its silty soils, similar to the Goldridge soils of the Russian River, rather than the shallow clay soils that compose much of Carneros. This exposed vineyard site is also one of the coldest locations in Carneros.

The 2001 vintage was marked by an early and severe frost, the likes of which had not been seen in Carneros since 1980. The frost reduced fruit yields to less than 2 tons per acre in the section of the Las Brisas vineyard that provided the grapes for this wine. This led to a wine with naturally exceptional depth and concentration. Only veraison thinning was required to balance yield and degree of ripeness. The grapes were simply destemmed with 25% retained as whole clusters, then left to soak prior to the start of a native fermentation. After extended maceration and pressing, the wine completed malolactic fermentation in new French oak barrels, where it aged for fourteen months prior to bottling. This cuvée is a blend of the 4 most exceptional barrels from three different lots which comprised a total of 84 barrels; Dijon Clone 777 and two heirloom selections, Swan and Martini, were represented in the three lots. Only 81 cases were produced.

Tasting Notes

Deep plum and blackberry fruit aromas married with beautiful nuances of French oak spice provide a hint of the flavors. This wine is dense, concentrated, and structured with high-quality, fine-grained tannins. It retains an elegant balance amidst its power, offering a generous mouthful of flavor now, but it will provide many, many years of hedonistic pleasure to come.