2017 Elias Pinot Noir 750ml
Vineyards: Our Home Ranch block 3 Pinot Noir was planted to three clonal selections from Torres, Cambria, and Mondavi. The vines were planted 5’ x 9’ on 101-14 & 3309C rootstocks in 1992. In 2008 we planted an additional 12 acres of Pinot using selection massale, budwood propagated from the original block, along with a 20% intermix of Dijon clone 667.
Vintage 2017: A welcome, very wet winter filled reservoirs and Spring frost was absent. Pinot bloom coincided with Spring rain and suffered some shatter but overall, the crop size was average. A relatively dry, cool spring led into a glorious summer with alternating cool and hot periods. Late July heat was followed by August morning fog. Our small crop of Estate Pinot Noir was hand harvested on September 1 at 25.1° Brix, just before the Labor Day heat wave.
Winemaking: The 2017 Pinot Noir was harvested at night and just after sunrise. While still cold, the hand harvested Pinot clusters were carefully sorted then gently destemmed. The must was cold soaked for four to five days, and then fermented with indigenous yeast. The Pinot was barrel aged for 10 months in 58% new French and Hungarian oak barrels, coopered by Remond, Nadalie, Trust and Demptos.
Tasting Notes: A torrent of aromas wasted no time in emerging, well struck notes of rose, chocolate cherry, lanolin, ripe Santa Rosa plum, clafoutis, Rooibos tea, bourbon vanilla - on and on it went. Flavors danced in perfect accompaniment adding cardamon and lingonberry to the card. Delicate and seamless, it charms one into submission. (Tasted 7-28-21)
Variety
100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard Location
Hanna Home Ranch
58% young block Pinot, 42% old block
Age of Vines
9-25 years
Root Stocks
101-14 & 3309C
Clone Selections
Dijon clone 667; Cambria, Torrez, Mondavi selections
Alcohol 14.4%
pH 3.65
TA 0.61 g/100 mL
Residual Sugar 0.25%
Avg. Brix at Harvest 25.1o
Harvest Dates: Sept 1, 2017
Fermentation
Combination of native and commercial yeasts, 9 days skin contact
Malolactic fermentation
100%
Length/Type of Aging
10 months in 60-gallon oak barrels
Oak Types
58% new French and Hungarian oak from Remond, Nadalie, Trust and Demptos cooperages.
Bottling Date: September 6, 2018
Number of Cases: 558
Vegetarian