1999 J Vintage Brut Russian River Valley

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The Vineyards
The 1999 growing season was exceptional and the quality of fruit from this vintage is considered superb. Our vineyards in the Russian River Valley yielded a balanced crop of clean, healthy and flavorful grapes that reflected the mild, long growing season with bright and lush aromas and flavors.

Winemaking
All grapes at J were hand-harvested into small bins and placed by hand as whole clusters without destemming into our special Coquard press for a gentle pressing cycle. Grape juice from the various vineyard lots is fermented and kept separate until blending decisions are made in mid-November. The cuvée (blend) was assembled in December of 1999, cold stabilized to remove excess tartrates, and then bottled over the spring of 2000.

Aging
After the secondary fermentation occurred in the bottle, the wines aged for a minimum of four years in our cool cellar. In 2004, the wines were carefully riddled to remove the yeast sediment responsible for the aging character. Following disgorging, a dosage liqueur of reserve wine and pure cane sugar was added to balance the wine. After the wine was disgorged, it was aged for another six months before being released to ensure a perfect balance of flavors. .

Tasting Notes
The long, slow maturation of 1999 Vintage Brut contributes greatly to the complex aromas of toasted almonds, fresh baked brioche, nutmeg and cardamom spice all carried by the delicate effervescence. The palate is smooth with a creamy entry and a vibrant, crisp acidity that shows through its flavors of apple, Bosc pear and lemon peel that all lead to a subtle, citrus finish. .

Appellation:   Russian River Valley

Residual Sugar:  1.3%

Final Analysis:  Alcohol 12.7% by volume

Final Blend:
51% Chardonnay
46% Pinot Noir
3% Pinot Meunier

Production:  28,000 cases