By focusing solely on Pinot Noir from the most prestigious vineyard sites in California and Oregon, and by vinifying each barrel separately by lot, clone, yeast and cooper, we champion individuality of place and intensity of flavor in each wine we produce
Production & Technical Data
Cases: 168
Alcohol: 15.1%
pH: 3.85
Total Acid: 0.55
Cooperage: 100% French, 60% New Ermitage, Sirugue,
Remond, Francois Freres
Winemakers' Comments
This legendary vineyard located on the bench of Sonoma Mountain, at this point, needs no real introduction. The Van der Kamp family can boast that it has the oldest block of Pinot Noir grapes planted in Sonoma County (over 45 years old), and has a variety of clones planted (some very young, some teenaged). With that diversity, this wine is always a hoot for us to blend because each clone is vinified separately, and kept in separate barrels until the final blend is created. It is very interesting for us to sit down and blend because each block is so different in flavor, texture and aroma. The older vines tend to produce wines that are earthy, rustic and very complex in their herbal characteristics. The younger vines tend to produce energetic, fruit-forward wines.
The end result is always an interesting combination. The 2004 version of this wine ended up a mix of four clones: 2 barrels of the old vine (45 years) block, 3 barrels of the teenage Martini Clone vines, 1 barrel from the first crop of the new Clone 828 planting, and 5 barrels worth of the 777 clone (10 year old block.) The different blocks were harvested between September 3rd and Sept 14th. They were all fermented separately and kept in separate French Oak barrels until blending. This wine, because of the warm year in 04, produced a lush, spicy and velvety Pinot Noir. As always, the wine exhibits aromas of earth, mushrooms, minerals, herbs and cherries. This rustic, supple wine coats your mouth, and the medium tannins give the wine back bone. This wine has been drinking excellently as of late, and should continue to get more interesting over the next 2-4 years.
91 Points - Beautiful red cherry color, elegant, refreshing and delicate with a beam of wild berry, raspberry and blackberry fruit that's clean and refreshing. Drink now through 2008. - J.L.
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