1998 J Pinot Noir, Nicole's Vineyard

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The Vineyard
The 1998 J Nicole's Vineyard Pinot Noir was harvested from selected parts of Nicole's Vineyard - our crown jewel hillside Pinot Noir parcel overlooking the Russian River Valley.

Processing
Selected grape clusters were hand-harvested, delivered cool to the winery and processed in our open-top fermenters. Our minimalist approach to making Pinot Noirs is designed to yield a wine that reflects, in both aroma and flavor profile, the location in which it was grown.

Ageing
The wine was drawn into 100 percent French oak barrels (nearly 35 percent of them new) soon after it was pressed. The malolactic fermentation was completed in the barrels and the wine remained in barrels for fifteen months. Only selected barrels made it to the final bottling in December 1999. Further bottle ageing at our cellars is part of J's commitment to only release wines that are in balance and ready for enjoyment.

Tasting Notes
Aromas from the 1998 J Nicole's Vineyard Pinot Noir are reflected in the essences of bright red fruit including strawberry, raspberry and cherry, layered with mint and mushroom. On the palette are nicely balanced flavors of strawberry, raspberry, tea and earth, continuing with a full oak and vanilla middle and a long plum finish.

At J we believe that the finer qualities of a good wine are revealed only when it is paired with good food and good company. The 1998 Nicole's Pinot Noir was made in an elegant, not overly-extracted style in order to allow the delicate nuances of this variety to express themselves. Some of our favorite pairings include octopus, duck, wild mushrooms and game dishes. We encourage you to experiment and find what pairings you enjoy. Cheers!

Harvest: September 9 - 15, 1998

Harvest Analysis: 23.4° Brix

Final Analysis: Alcohol 13.6% by volume

Bottling Date: December 14, 1999

3,200 cases produced