2009 Pinot Noir, Hayley Vineyard, Anderson Valley

Both intriguing and focused, this Hayley’s Vineyard Pinot is truly expressive of the “deep end” of the Anderson Valley. Notes of cherry cola, star anise and sweet tobacco provide sensual aromatics. On the palate, bright acidity opens up to ripe red raspberry, cocoa and juicy cranberry, with palpable tannins that sail on and on… Drink now through 2015.

Winemaking: The fruit was harvested at optimal ripeness to achieve both complexity in flavors and phenolic balance. Each cluster was hand sorted to ensure the inclusion of only the highest quality berries. The fruit was gently de-stemmed into an open-top fermentation vessel and left to cold-soak for 3 days in order to concentrate rich and vibrant color. Finally, it was warmed up and fermented on skins for 10 days, lightly pressed and sent to age in French oak for 11 months.

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