2002 J Vintage Brut

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The Vineyards
The 2002 growing season was one of the finest in the Russian River Valley in recent history, with the cool nights and moderate daytime temperatures providing ideal conditions for tremendous flavor development and the acid retention in the fruit expected of great vintages. Overall there was an average yield for grapes giving a great balance to the flavors and aromas.

Processing
All grapes at J are hand-harvested into forty pound lugs and placed as whole clusters (no destemming) into our one-of-a-kind Coquard press for a gentle pressing cycle. Grape juice from the various vineyard lots is fermented and kept separately until blending decisions are made in mid-November. The cuvée (blend) was assembled in December of 2002, and cold stabilized to remove excess tartrates, and then bottled over the spring of 2003.

Aging
After the secondary fermentation (in the bottle) the wines aged for nearly five years in our cool cellars. In 2006, we began riddling the wines (to remove the yeast sediment responsible for the aging character) and a dosage liqueur was prepared from a blend of wood-aged, reserve wines and pure cane sugar. After the wine was disgorged, it was aged for a least another six months before we released it from our cellars to ensure a perfect balance of flavors.

Tasting Notes
The 2002 J Brut exudes enticing aromas of Asian pears, nectarines, lime zest, and light honeydew melon in its initial aromas. The pear and lime notes follow through in the mouth with a mix of honeysuckle and vanilla cream flavors that lead to a lengthy finish highlighted with a hint of ginger. This wine will pair nicely with light summertime brunches as well as elegant dinner fare.

Harvest:  August 15 – August 27, 2002

Final Analysis:  Alcohol 12.5% by volume

Final Blend:
49% Chardonnay
49% Pinot Noir
2%   Pinot Meunier

100 % Russian River Valley, Sonoma County

20,000 cases produced