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2000 J Pinot Gris, Russian River Valley
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The Vineyards
The new millennium release of J Pinot Gris is a wonderful blend of 100% Pinot Gris fruit from
four Sonoma County vineyards: our own Cooper and River Road Vineyards, the famed Saralee's
Vineyard and Greene Vineyard.
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
Ten percent of the juice was fermented in 60-gallon French oak barrels and went through malolactic
fermentation. Twenty-five percent of the juice was fermented in large oak casks. The remaining
juice was fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks in order to preserve the fruit
character of the wine. The wine was then blended and thirty percent was subsequently oak-aged
for five months until February of 2001, when it was again blended and cold stabilized before bottling.
Tasting Notes
The floral, orange blossom, honey, tangerine and ripe white peach aromas in this wine are
reminiscent of a lush summer garden. Slight hints of vanilla and white chocolate are the work
of the barrel-fermented portion of this wine, and the sun-washed linen hue in the glass subtly
speaks of the waiting opulence. With a round mouth-filling richness and a slight sweetness,
flavors of citrus, honeysuckle and cream remind us of the old-fashioned Orange Creamsicle. The
full finish has a steely undertone, balanced by the natural acidity of the wine.
The 2000 J Pinot Gris is a wonderful accompaniment to many types of cuisine, but we highly
recommend that you serve it with dishes that contain slightly spicy Pacific Rim or Asian flavors.
Harvest
August 19, 2000 (Paul Cooper Vineyard) 33%
August 28, 2000 (Greene, Dry Creek Valley) 13%
August 29, 2000 (Saralee's Vineyard) 42%
September 13, 2000 (River Road) 12%
Harvest Analysis: 21.3° Brix
Final Analysis: Alcohol 12.1% by volume
Bottling Date: March 14-15, 2001
Release Date: May 1, 2001
2600 cases produced
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