2016 Starmont Pinot Noir Lee Vineyard

Winemaking

Handpicked on September 14th from Block H of Lee Vineyard in Carneros, the grapes were 100% destemmed into an open-top fermenter. After a 3-day cold soak, the fruit was fermented with native yeasts at approximately 80°F with twice daily punchdowns and two days of extended maceration before pressing for a total of 13 days on the skins. Racked once after 10 months then back down to barrel for aging until a final racking to tank for bottling. Using 15% new French oak (30% twice used and the balance neutral), the wine spent 18 months in barrel before bottling; ten months on primary lees and eight months on light lees. The wine was racked twice and bottled without fining.

Tasting Notes

This wine is made from one particular block of the Lee Vineyard which is planted to the Swan Clone. This clone came from cuttings from Joseph Swan’s vineyard in the Russian River Valley. The original material is believed to have been suitcase cuttings from Domaine de la Romanee-Conti. This wine tends to be the lightest and most feminine of our Pinot Noirs, evoking Burgundian thoughts. In the 2016, you will find black cherry and kirsh on the nose and just a hint of clove, followed by a rich entry to the palate with a thread of soft tannin adding length to the finish.