2002 J Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley

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The Vineyards
The 2002 J Pinot Gris is a wonderful blend of 100% Pinot Gris fruit from Sonoma County vineyards: our own Cooper and River Road Vineyards, the famed Saralee's Vineyard and Greene Vineyard as well as two new vineyards - Balletto and Webber - which all blend to build the complexity of this wine.

Processing
Whole grape clusters were hand-harvested, then pressed gently in J's Coquard press. This unique method minimized the extraction of harsh components from the skins and seeds of the grape. Free-run juice and press fraction juices were fermented separately.

Ageing
Twenty-five percent of the juice was fermented and aged in 60-gallon French oak barrels. Partial malolactic fermentation was carried-out on about 25% of the juice (the juice in barrel). The remaining juice was fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the fruit character of the wine.

Tasting Notes
Fruit-forward with a crisp acidity, the 2002 Russian River Valley Pinot Gris shows green apple and tropical fruit blended with floral notes of orange blossom, jasmine and vanilla. The palate is a harmonious balance of fruit and acid with a lingering finish of citrus, peach and vanilla.

The 2002 J Pinot Gris is a wonderful accompaniment to many types of cuisine, but we highly recommend it matched with Asian inspired dishes, as well as, most spicy Pacific Rim cuisine.

Harvest: September 2-18, 2002

Harvest Analysis: Average sugar 23.5° Brix

Final Analysis: Alcohol 13.7% by volume

Bottling Date: January 20-22, 2003

5,800 cases produced