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2000 Pinot Gris Reserve

(updated 3/23/04)

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The Wine

This is the version of pinot gris we make to provide ultimate complexity and structure. Using Alsace as a standard, we seek weight and richness to make this more than a simple white. This Pinot gris is a true reserve wine; the fruit is divided at harvest, after full ripeness is achieved, with the reserve portion going through barrel fermentation in neutral oak. With long lees contact, at least partial ML (malolactic fermentation), and a variety of yeasts--- the wine is concentrated, complex, well-textured, and carries tropical fruit aromas and a tight pear flavor profile, accented with a honeyed richness.

The Vineyards

Fruit comes from our three Estate Vineyards: Ridgecrest, Stoller and Corral Creek, blended into a fully-complemented wine, even though the majority came from Stoller in this unusual year when Ridgecrest was cropped exceptionally low to make our first VT (vendage tardive). The estate vineyards are planted on three different soil types, which provides complementary elements in resulting wines: Ridgecrest on Willakenzie, Stoller on Jory, and Corral Creek on Laurelwood. The interaction of clone and site add great complexity, consistency and fullness of character to blends of pinot gris, especially in an excellent vintage.

The Vintage

Vintage 2000 was our third great vintage in-a-row, providing full ripeness and excellent weather throughout the growing season and through harvest. The average to one week early harvest, September 29-October 26, saw only 1.09 inches of rain. Fruit quantities were bountiful, permitting crop thinning to obtain ideal croploads of 2.50 tons/acre for Pinot gris, 2.55 for Chardonnay and 2.31 for Pinot noir. White wine characteristics are between 1998's round fleshiness and 1999's crisply structured ageability. Red wines benefit from less extreme extraction at Ridgecrest than the prior two vintages, thanks to normal croploads of 2.49 tons/acre and improved and excellent quality from the other vineyards. The overall quality in the Pinot noir cellar exceeds 1999 and is similar to 1998.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested 10/4 to 10/13, 2000 (Ridgecrest Vineyards approx imately 50%, Stoller 30%, and Corral Creek 20%) @ an average of 23.0-25.6 brix, 5.9-7.8 g/l TA, and 3.20-.41 pH

Fermentation:

Fermented with 5 yeasts (71B, 3079, native, AC, VL1) in neutral oak; incomplete ML (1.61 g/L malic)

Cooperage/Aging:

Aged for 6+ months without racking (i.e., on lees)

Bottling:

Cold stabilized and sterile filtered, bottled 5/11/01

Bottling Analyses:

14.8% alcohol, 6.8 g/l TA, 3.27 pH, 0.30% residual sugar

Cases Produced:

540

Suggested Retail:

$19

Release Date:

November, 2001

Winemaker's Comments

This Pinot gris carries the full fruit of the Estate Pinot gris, with added body, creaminess and structure. It is likely the best version of this ageworthy Pinot gris we've done, benefiting from older and lower cropped Ridgecrest fruit and early ripening Stoller and Corral Creek fruit.

Quotes

Seattle Post Intelligencer, September 11, 2002. Everything about this wine says big, from its dark straw color to its lush buttery nose and rich flavors of pear and apple. It almost resembles a chardonnay.

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