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2016 Pinot Noir
Description
Winemaking Notes
The 2016 Estate Russian River Valley Pinot Noir has lovely aromas of red fruit, floral and earth. With a soft and silky texture, on the palate dark cherry, cranberry, and baking spice characteristics shine through with balance, acidity and a nice lingering finish. This medium bodied wine was aged for 14 months in small French oak barrels, which added a hint of toasty vanilla and spice complexity. Enjoy this Pinot Noir now with charcuterie, wild mushroom risotto, grilled pork tenderloin or cellar it for enjoyment for the next 2 to 4 years.
History
Rod Strong was among the first modern wine pioneers with a vision to plant Pinot Noir in the Russian River Valley. In 1968, he planted our heritage River East Vineyard in the alluvial clay-loam soils adjacent to the winery in Healdsburg. Today the Russian River Valley is well established as one of the premier Pinot Noir growing regions in the world, and we continue to rely on the original River East Vineyard as a core contributor to our estate vineyard bottling.
The Vineyards
The 2016 harvest in Sonoma County was a lot like the 2015 harvest. Early winter showers were followed by a warm, dry beginning to the new growing season, setting the stage for an early bud break. Alternating overcast days and heat waves continued through spring and summer, with a particularly hot period in late June, and an unseasonal rain in July. We had some unseasonably cool temperatures in mid-September that put the brakes on harvest allowing us to free up some tank space. The Pinot Noir was harvested August 9th through September 3rd.
