Product Description
Klindt Vineyard, Anderson Valley 2010Released February 1, 2012Production of 260 casesVarietal Composition100% Pinot NoirTechnical Data13.8% alcohol by volume0.60 gm/100 ml titratable aciditypH 3.75Bottled August 30, 2011VineyardsIn the deep end of the Anderson Valley, at an elevation of 400 feet, lies the hillside Klindt Vineyard. This is certainly one of the most daring vineyard locations in California: its ultra cool climate puts Pinot Noir to the test, even in ideal years. The clonal selections, Pommard, 113 and 777, are well laid out on the slopes different aspects to capture the needed daylight hours and achieve maturity in this challenging climate.HarvestThe harvest of 2010 was one of the latest on record, following an extended and cool growing season. In short, it was perfect for the development of nuanced, elegant Pinot Noir. The rains came early, but not before we picked on October 6 at dawn, with brix levels just shy of 24.Winemaking and CooperageThe grapes were harvested by hand, most destemmed and gently fed into an open top tank with 95% whole berries and 5% whole clusters. Native yeast fermentation began eight days later and was complete by October 21, 2010. We drained the free-run juice directly into Francois Freres, Allier barrels, 18% of which were new. Native malolactic fermentation was complete by early January of 2011. The wine was racked off fine lees directly to the bottling tank and bottled without fining or filtration on August 30, 2011.WinemakerAlex MacGregorAssistant WinemakerSebastian DonosoWinemaker's CommentsThe lasting impression of our 2010 vintage is one of tremendous purity and elegance. It has an ethereal, perfumed nose of sweet raspberry and cherry, and an underlying root vegetable earthiness, perhaps owing to the small percentage of whole clusters. The tannins are sweet, and ample acidity keeps it nervy, balanced and penetrating. This wine exemplifies the best of a cool climate Pinot Noir.