2016 Starmont Pinot Noir Coury Clone

Winemaking

The Coury clone is named for Charles Coury, who brought this clone to Carneros over 50 years ago. Charles Coury identified Carneros as one of the pre-eminent cool-climate wine regions in the world and we pay homage to him using his namesake clone. Handpicked on September 12th, the fruit was destemmed into open-top fermenters--40% of the blend in stainless steel and 60% in oak, cold soaked for 3 days and fermented at an average temperature of 80° F for 9 days using native yeast. After a 2-day extended maceration for a total of 14 days on the skins, the wine was pressed and racked into barrels. The wine spent a total of 18 months in French oak barrels (30% new); was racked once after 8 months, then again just before bottling.

Tasting Notes

A near-perfect growing season started early and saw ideal weather conditions throughout leading to a harvest date of September 12th, 2016. This wine is an elegant expression of Pinot Noir showing notes of pink rose florality, crushed fresh cherry, sprinkled with a hint of allspice. On the palate the wine is fresh, long and balanced with youthful tension.