2005 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 reddish 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.

Aging
The wine was drawn into 100% French oak barrels, nearly 35% 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 2006. Further bottle aging 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. With a rich and vivid hue, the 2005 Nicole’s offers inviting and expressive aromas of warm spice, Bing cherry, blackberry and a soft, earthy note. Beautifully structured, the palate bursts with lifted flavors of black cherry, black plum and cola. The lush fruit combined with the baking spice notes from aging in French oak broadens the mouthfeel and gives this full and rich wine definition and length.

Appellation:  Russian River Valley

Harvest:  September 3 - 5, 2005

Final Analysis:  Alcohol 14.6% by volume

Bottling Date:  December 13, 2006

Production:  1,800 cases