2007 J Pinot Noir, Robert Thomas Vineyard
The vineyards
Robert Thomas is an exclusive 47-acre vineyard on Westside Road comprised of Zamora soil, heavily influenced by its proximity to the Russian River. This vineyard is one of the last to ripen as it is the farthest west. The coastal fog and cooler temperatures grant the fruit more time on the vine to develop a rich flavor profile expressing the terroir of this region. Clones are a combination of primarily Rochioli, 2A and Dijon 115.
Processing
Selected grape clusters were hand-harvested at night to ensure the best conditions. While still cool, the fruit was hand-sorted, gently destemmed and gravity fed into our open-top fermenters for wholeberry fermentation. Daily tastings determine the precise balance of fruit and tannins before the wine goes to barrel. Our minimalist approach to making Pinot Noirs is designed to yield a wine that reflects, in both aroma and flavor, the location in which it was grown.
Aging
When ready, the juice flowed freely into 100% French oak barrels, 40% new, where slow, gentle malolactic fermentation took place. The long secondary fermentation on light lees allowed for natural bâtonnage developing a velvety, full mid-palate. After aging for 12 months in Burgundian barrels, each lot was evaluated for balance and complexity. Select barrels were blended and returned to barrel for an additional three months, allowing complete resolution of all components before bottling.
Tasting Notes
Aromas of the 2007 Robert Thomas is full of vibrant fruit with touches of rose petal, violet and a subtle toastiness. Ripe strawberry, cherry, and nuances of cranberry fill your mouth with silkiness balanced by a nice acidity. Refined fruit is gracefully layered with soft tannins that carry through to a lengthy finish lush with caramel and vanilla.
Winemaker:George Bursick
Appellation:Russian River Valley
Harvest Date:September 6 - October 2, 2007
Wine Alcohol:14.3% by volume
Wine Acid:6.0 grams per liter
Wine pH:3.55
Production:400 cases
Bottling Date:February 2009
Reviews
91 Points - Burghound for J Vineyards 2007 Robert Thomas Vineyard Pinot Noir!...
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92 Points - Wine Enthusiast for J Vineyards 2007 Robert Thomas Vineyard Pinot Noir! ...
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Exceptional - Dan Berger for J Vineyards 2007 Robert Thomas Vineyard Pinot Noir! ...
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