2018 Trifecta Fort Ross – Seaview Pinot Noir

2018 was a seamless season of heavenly hangtime and phenomenal phenolic development.  February saw abundant rains, followed by lots of filtered light in spring and early summer. Both bud break and flowering occurred a bit late, but under ideal weather conditions, creating plentiful and even fruit set. Summer brought generous sun during the day and cooler marine influences, virtually uninterrupted by major heat spikes. The relatively mild summer followed by extended fall sunshine and moderate heat created near-ideal conditions for us to allow our fruit to accumulate flavor complexity with gradual increases in sugar levels.

This 2018 Trifecta Fort Ross Seaview Pinot Noir embodies the power and depth that the 2018 vintage has become known for. 

Dark and brooding with soft, ripe tannins balanced with mulberry and black cherry flavors mingled with baking spice and floral notes finishing with subtle minerality. It is drinking beautifully now and will continue to improve with age over the next 5 to 7 years. 

Harvest Date:  September 9th

Harvest Brix:   26.0° brix

Clonal Selections: Clone 777 and 828

Hand-harvested: picked at night

De-stemmed: whole berry to tank

Cold soak:  72 hour at 55° F

Fermented:  with Assmanhausen yeast for 11 days with 14 days of total maceration 

Aged: 6 months sur lie   in French oak barrels, then racked for additional 12 months of barrel ageing prior to bottling

Coopers: 40% new French oak Nadalie and Vernou Medium plus 3-year air dried

Bottled:  August 2020, Un-fined and lightly filtered