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2006 3 Vineyard Pinot Noir

(new release October 2007)

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The Wine

This is our most widely distributed and earliest available Pinot Noir. It is a wine blended from all of our vineyards and bottled before the single-vineyard and reserve wines. The complementary nature of the lots that go into this blend is obvious in its full, early integration and its occasionally being considered superior to single-vineyard wines. ALL Pinots are made with the same care, receive the same oak, are from the same Estate Vineyards, etc. — the 3 Vineyard represents the very populist notion that egos and individuality may elevate some brothers and sisters, but the rest of us together are just as wise and powerful, sometimes even more so. Beginning in 2003, with the reduction of single-vineyard bottling production quantities, barrels of single-vineyard quality are now returned to the 3 Vineyard blend for even greater complexity.

The Vineyards

Fruit and the name come from our three Estate Vineyards: Ridgecrest, Stoller, and Corral Creek, blended into a fully-complemented wine. The estate vineyards are planted on three different soil types, which provide complementary elements in resulting wines, especially Pinot noir: Ridgecrest on Willakenzie, Stoller on Jory, and Corral Creek on Laurelwood. The excellence and distinctiveness of single vineyards can be seen in vineyard designated labels for these vineyards. However, the wisdom of complementary blends, with their consistency and fullness of character is very often seen in 3 Vineyard.

The Vintage

I have the highest regard for the Pinot Noirs in barrel, not having seen better fruit EVER from selected blocks or vineyards, including 22 harvests from Ridgecrest! The reds should be held to high expectations. The whites are the surprise, since a very warm vintage often blunts the acid, raises alcohol to unbalance the wine, and softens the fruit to soft and fleshy. Not so in 2006. The Pinot Gris, Chardonnay, Riesling, and Pinot Blanc are crisp, bright, and scintillating in fruit aromas and complex in spice and fruit flavors. The warmth that came during the growing season abated before most fruit seriously began ripening, with cooler days and, especially important, acid-saving nights giving finesse to the wines. Appealing early, they should age respectably, too. Color me pleased.

Stats

Harvest Data:

Harvested 9/26 to 10/13/2006 (approximately 60% Stoller, 25% Ridgecrest, and 15% Corral Creek); from 3.0 tons per acre cropload

Fermentation:

11–17 days total fermentation with 5–12 days pre-maceration

Cooperage/Aging:

9 months in 25% new, 27% one-use, and 48% multiple-use French oak barrels

Wine Selection:

Selected barrels from most fermentation lots, after reserve-level selections

Bottling:

Bottled 7/31/2007 with DE filtration

Bottling Analyses:

14.8% alcohol, 5.6 g/L TA, 3.8 pH

Cases Produced:

4,053

Suggested Retail:

$32

Release Date:

October 2007

Winemaker's Comments

Cherry red with amazing clarity. Cherries are also apparent on the nose, with notes of lavender and dried herbs. A bright, sweet entry gives forth to a rich, supple texture with flavors of ripe red and black fruits, cherry cola, white pepper, and cocoa as well as a finish touched with toast and cedar. Complex, ripe, and one of the best we’ve done. Harbinger of a great vintage.

Quotes

Wine & Spirits, April 2008, "Year's Best Pinot Noir": 92. Ripe as a summer plum and showing an inky, earthy side, this wine takes a day to reveal its brighter fruit flavors, red strawberries dusted with red earth. For all its ripeness, a lacy structure gives the wine elegance and lift, with a nutskin feel to the tannins that calls for tortelloni stuffed with mushrooms.

Wine Spectator, September 30, 2008, Harvey Steiman: 91. Fragrant with blueberry and floral aromas, which persist into the flavor profile along with hints of mineral and cream, sailing smoothly over fine-grained tannins on a graceful frame.

The Wine Advocate, October 2008, Jay Miller: 89. The 2006 Pinot Noir 3 Vineyards is medium ruby-colored with a bouquet of spice box, cherry, and strawberry. On the palate the wine is forthcoming and friendly with plenty of sweet fruit and just enough structure to keep the wine together.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/June 2008, Josh Raynolds: 89. Light red. Spicy strawberry and raspberry aromas are complicated by dusty minerals and dried flowers. Racy and sharply focused, with vivid red fruit flavors, silky texture and good mineral lift. Finishes clean and brisk, with good fruit drive and no rough edges.