In our opinion, no other region benefited as much from the outstanding 2007 vintage as
the Russian River Valley. Certainly 2007 was great throughout California, but it is specifically
in the Russian River Valley where the vintage truly shines.
As is usually the case, the Amber Ridge Vineyard was one of our earliest ripening vineyards.
We picked clones 667 and 777 on September 1st (we’ve never picked in August)
while the 115 clone was picked on September 6. Yields were down significantly from
2006 with almost 25% less fruit.
We completely destemmed the 115 and 777 fruit as the stems seemed still green to us.
But we chose to retain half of the stems in the 667 clone fermentation. In addition to this,
we used three different yeasts in the fermentation of these clones in hopes of adding an
additional layer of complexity. Ultimately, we selected 15 barrels out of 21 total and
blended those to create the final wine. For those of you into the numbers, the final wine is
comprised of 53% 667 clone, 27% 115 clone, and 20% 777 clone. It was aged in 2/3 new
French oak and was not racked until just prior to bottling. It was bottled without fining or
filtration.
The 2007 Siduri Amber Ridge Pinot Noir exhibits an enviable pureness of flavor. Rich,
dark fruits such as plum, currant, and wild berries combine with hints of cola and sassafras
in the mid-palate. The wine has a beautiful texture and lush mouth-feel but turns a bit
more tannic on the finish, leading us to believe that while it is drinkable now it will age
well for at least the next three years.
PRODUCTION: 368 Cases
RELEASE DATE: February 2009
 92 Points
Ripe, fleshy black cherry, wild berry and raspberry fruit is delicate and full-bodied, with supple texture, picking up nice floral and spicy scents and ending with subtle fruit flavors. Drink now through 2014. 368 cases made. –JL
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