Our 2015 Pinot Noir Reserve is made from 100% of the Pommard clone which was one of the first Dijon Clones to be planted in the Carneros AVA. The vineyard is in the northern section of the famed Carneros, District.  The loam and hillside alluvial soils of these cool-climate sites yield small crops of Pinot Noir fruit with highly concentrated flavors.  Morning fog and cooling afternoon breezes ensure a long growing season and vibrant grape acidity, resulting in rich, beautifully balanced wines. The 2015 Reserve Pinot Noir was aged for 18 months in 100% French Oak barrels

The 2015 growing season was cool.  Ample rain in the spring eliminated the need for irrigation.  The cooler climate allowed the grapes to ripen slowly creating a beautiful balance between the grape sugars and flavors. We harvested our Carneros Pinot Noir grapes in early September with an ideal balance of ripe fruit flavors and crisp balancing acidity.

Night harvesting of our Carneros Pinot Noir grapes ensures we fully capture the variety’s fresh acidity, ethereal aromas and complex fruit flavors.  In 2015 we fermented the grapes in small, open-top tanks using a special Burgundian yeast strain, with daily punch downs of the cap to fully extract color, flavor and tannins.  Once fermentation completed, the wines were transferred to medium-plus-toast French oak barrels, 60 percent new, where they aged nine months prior to blending and bottling.