1997 J Vintage Brut (Magnum)

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Winemaker Notes
The 1997 growing season in the Russian River Valley was marked by warm and even weather from bloom until harvest. Corp levels and cluster weights were high, which led to lower than normal acid levels. Fruit flavors and aromas were well developed, as is evident by the forward notes in the wine.

Processing
All grapes were hand-harvested, whole cluster, into forty pound lugs and placed by hand into our Coquard champagne 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 1997, cold stabilized and bottled over the spring of 1998.

Ageing
After secondary fermentation in the bottle, the wine was aged on the cork, en tirage (on the yeast) for 5 years in our cool cellars. Dosage was made from a blend of wood-aged, reserve wines and pure cane sugar. The wine is aged for an additional 10 months before it is released from our cellars.

Tasting Notes
The 1997 J Brut is all about balance. Crisp citrus and delicate yeast aromas with lightly floral overtones moving to deeper undercurrents of roasted almond, apple, pear and bread dough. The 1997 vintage reminds one of an apple pie baking. The flavor profile begins with fresh apples and grapes, followed by a bright citrus core. The wine’s medium acidity serves to marry all the components into a seamless experience, ending bright, juicy and long, with a toasted hazelnut and apple finish.

Harvest: August 8 to September 11, 1997

Harvest Analysis: Average sugar 18.7° Brix

Final Blend:
52.6% Chardonnay
42.8% Pinot Noir
4.6% Pinot Meunier
100 % Russian River Valley

450 cases produced