Summary

Vineyard planted in 1994
Vine spacing 6' x 8'
Dijon 115, Swan, and Pommard clones/selections
1103P rootstock
2.3 tons per acre fruit yield

3.73 pH
0.57 g/100mL titratable acidity
14.1% alcohol by volume
60% new, 40% 1-year old French oak barrels
Aged 16 months
322 cases produced

Vineyards and Winemaking

The grapes for this bottling were sourced from Ted Klopp's exceptional vineyard, which lies on the same sandy/silty Goldridge soils profile as the nearby Dehlinger and Kistler vineyards. While this vineyard is relatively young, it has already gained a reputation for producing luscious vineyard-designate quality wines. Located in the rolling hills just west of the Laguna de Santa Rosa, the climate is cool and the vigor of the vines can be dialed in by controlling the amount of irrigation the vines receive. Clonal material consists of Swan selection, one of the mainstays of North Coast viticulture, as well as Dijon 115 and Pommard clones.

2003 was in some ways a vintage of extremes. Unusually small fruit yields were created by unseasonable heat spikes in March, followed by one of northern California's wettest Aprils. The summer was characterized by mostly cool, mild days that ensured slow ripening and great flavor evolution. A series of heat spikes just prior to picking resulted in a touch of dehydration, concentrating the near-perfect flavors. This fortuitous weather pattern was a perfect storm of conditions leading to top-notch wine quality.

Harvested on 24 September, the grapes were simply destemmed with 30% retained as whole clusters, then left to soak prior to the start of a native fermentation. Once the native fermentation began, a small amount of a commercial yeast strain was introduced to ensure completion of the process. After an extended maceration (32 days from crush to press), the must was pressed and racked to barrels after a night of settling. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and eighteen months of aging in new and one-year-old French oak barrels.

Tasting Notes

Fresh and spicy, Bing cherry, red licorice, and hints of cola dominate the aroma of this generous offering. Ripe, lush, juicy cherry and blackberry fruit fills the mouth. Texturally, this wine is a great example of the silky, sexy mouthfeel that has become one of the hallmarks of Talisman Pinot noir. The wine finishes with ripe, juicy fruit and exceptional persistence.