1995 J Vintage Brut (Magnum)

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Processing
All grapes were hand-harvested into forty-pound lugs and hand-loaded, 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 1995 J magnum was then hand-bottled and sealed with a cork and agrafe during ageing. This ancient technique renders the wine more supple yet enables it to retain lively acidity.

Ageing
The wine aged for five years "sur lie" in our cool cellars before riddling. Following hand-disgorging, we added a dosage of reserve wine and pure cane sugar to finish the wine before hand-labeling. An additional nine months of ageing on the cork assures the wine of symmetry.

Tasting Notes
Six years old at release, the 1995 J displays aromas of popcorn, bread dough, apple, pear and light floral notes. Flavors of Pippin apple, pear, grape and citrus with a hint of orange zest are all enveloped by a soft acidity that keeps the overall impression delightfully fresh. The finish is long and luxurious with pear and caramel notes.

Harvest: August 22 - September 22, 1995

Harvest Analysis: Average sugar 19.4° Brix

Final Analysis: Alcohol 12.6% by volume

Final Blend:
47.3% Chardonnay (Origin: 98% Russian River Valley, 2% Alexander Valley)
49.3% Pinot Noir (Origin: 94.9% Russian River Valley, 5.1% Alexander Valley
3.4% Pinot Meunier (Origin: 100% Russian River Valley)

Release Date: November 2001

450 cases produced