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1996 J Pinot Noir, Nicole's Vineyard
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The Vineyard
Comprised of 100% Pinot Noir from Nicole's Vineyard, J Vineyards & Winery's
crown jewel. This vineyard is planted on a hillside overlooking the
middle reach of the Russian River Valley. Soils are predominantly red
loam with a bed of gravelly deposits. The vines are naturally low
yielding and result in grapes that are perfectly balanced and a wine
that is elegant and complex.
Processing
Selected grape clusters were hand harvested into small bins during cool
morning hours. For this wine we adopted a minimalist approach, letting
the vineyard produce the wine rather than manipulate it with modern
production technology. During fermentation, we chose to "punch-down"
the fermenting cap rather than use pumps. Wines were drawn to French oak
barrels immediately at the end of the alcohol fermentation, where slow
malolactic fermentation took place during late fall.
Ageing
The wine was racked from barrel to barrel in the spring following
harvest and continued ageing until late fall, for a total of about 13
months in the barrel. After bottling, the wines age for more than a
year before release.
Winemaker's Notes
1996 marked the third year we vinified grapes from Nicole's Vineyard
for still wine. Though maturity came early, the unmistakable signature
of this particular terroir is evident. I find this wine reveals its
uniqueness in a slow and seductive manner. Aromas are of berries, dry
spice, and delicate floral notes. I like to decant this wine for about
twenty minutes, which enables more of the forest floor and rose-petal
notes to become interlaced with the primary fruit aromas. The tactile
sensation is of a medium-full bodied wine without any hints of hotness;
a sensation described as "liquid silk". Delicate blackberry flavors are
complemented by slight smokiness, a hint of mint, and exotic black tea
components. The finish is surprisingly long, complex in nature, and
leaves the palate refreshed and invigorated.
A perfect companion to food, J Pinot Noir will easily enhance seafood,
vegetarian, and game selections. Our favorites include Sonoma County
lamb, wild mushrooms, and pork tenderloin. Abandon all rules. Follow
your own tastes with a sense of spirit and adventure!
Harvest: August 20, 1996
Harvest Analysis: 23.9° Brix
Final Analysis: Alcohol 13.8% by volume
Bottling Date: December 2 - 3, 1997
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