2010 Purple Hands Pinot Noir

eRobertParker "Wine Advocate" - 90 Points

"The 2010 Pinot Noir (one of the first to be bottled) was sourced entirely from the excellent Stoller Vineyard. Fragrant, savory, and racy (due to the excellent acidity of the vintage) this tasty, pleasure-bent offering lacks only complexity. Drink it from 2012 to 2020." - Jay Miller

Tasting Notes:

Cola, chocolate, cherry, strawberry, red raspberry, red current, earth, rich minerality. A luscious, sexy mouthfeel, with beautiful structure and elegant balance.

Vineyard:

Stoller Vineyard is located in the south western slopes of the Dundee Hills. The Stoller property was a turkey farm from the 1940s through the 1980s. In 1995, the Stoller family planted their first 20 acres to excellent clones of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The Vineyard ranges from 300 to 600 feet on volcanic Jory soil. Stoller is L.I.V.E. certified and Salmon safe certified.

Vintage:

The first Pinot fruit arrived on the crush pad 10/7/11, strangely enough one day difference from the previous vintage. There was heavy rain pressure heading in by the middle of October. The La Nina summer was one of the coolest I have ever farmed. The heat units were extremely low and inconsistent, meaning the grapes where not ripening fast, if at all. The vines were about three weeks behind in ripeness for most producers.

After all the fruit had come in to the winery I was excited and pleased that my Pinot had arrived in early October at 23 brix. They showed great flavor and complexity in the berry. Healthy ferments and gentle aging led to this wonderful 2010 Pinot.

Technical Data:

Harvest: Hand picked and sorted Pinot Noir - 10/8/2011
Fermentation: 95% destemmed into 1 1/4 top fermenters, 6 day cold soak @ 50° F, Punch downs 2 times a day, Peak ferment 95° F.
Aging: Nine months neutral French oak. 10% new oak aged.
Brix: 23.3
pH: 3.69
Alcohol: 13.5

Price $30.00 per bottle Case discounts available.