1999 J Pinot Noir, Nicole's Vineyard

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The Vineyard
The fruit for this wine was harvested from selected vines of Nicole's Vineyard - J Vineyards & Winery's crown jewel hillside Pinot Noir parcel overlooking the Russian River Valley. The soil in this vineyard is a Red Goldridge Loam with gravel striations.

Processing
Selected grape clusters were hand-harvested, delivered cool to the winery, hand sorted 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 on its lees in barrels for twelve months. Only selected barrels made it to the final blend, bottled in November 2000. 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
This estate Pinot Noir is defined by exceptional balance and elegance, reminding one why we set out to produce Pinot Noir in the first place. Lively aromas of berries and violets integrated with vanilla, cola and slightly earthy undertones. The palate is intense with dark fruit - blueberry, cherry and plum - balanced by cracked-pepper spice, fennel and light rosemary. The wine rounds out with a long, full finish that is slightly sweet and smokey - reminiscent of crème brulee or caramelized sugar.

Harvest: September 27-29, 1999

Harvest Analysis: Average sugar 25.6° Brix

Final Analysis: Alcohol 14.5% by volume

Bottling Date: November 28-30, 2000

1,500 cases produced