1998 J Vintage Brut

Return to Wine Library

Winemaker's Notes
The 1998 growing season in the Russian River Valley was marked by a warm spring and a cool summer. Temperatures heated up just before harvest to give the final boost to bring the fruit to ripeness.

Processing
All grapes were hand-harvested into forty pound lugs and placed by hand whole cluster into our Coquard press for a gentle pressing cycle. Vineyard lots and press fractions were kept separate until blending decisions were made in mid-November. The cuvee was assembled in December of 1998, cold stabilized and bottled over the spring of 1999.

Ageing
After secondary fermentation in the bottle, the wines aged for an average of thirty-six months in our cool cellars. Dosage was made from a blend of wood-aged, reserve wines and pure cane sugar. The wine is aged for a least another six months before it is released from our cellars.

Tasting Notes
The 1998 J Brut represents a benchmark in our winemaking style, as it is the first vintage to see four years of aging on the lees. Initial notes are a mixture of white fruits and citrus with delicate floral aromas (honeysuckle and orange blossom). Underlying these first notes are hints of toast and butterscotch, that are slightly more pronounced than previous vintages - due to the extended aging on the yeast. The broad palate is dominated by melon and apple - with a hint of honey. The finish is long and clean - ending with a delicate nuttiness.

Harvest: August 28 - September 30, 1998

Harvest Analysis: Average sugar level 19.2° Brix

Final Analysis: Alcohol 12.4% by volume

Final Blend:
53% Chardonnay
44% Pinot Noir
3% Pinot Meunier
100 % Russian River Valley, Sonoma County