Napa
Valley / Mt. George Pinot Noir
Bill Mink planted
this vineyard for us back in 1996 to our specifications. We
jumped at the opportunity to contract the fruit, knowing the potential
of this relatively unknown niche east of the city of Napa. We
habitually add the "Mt. George" name after Napa Valley as we
feel this is such a unique region within a larger appellation more
known for Cabernet than Pinot. The climate here is similar to areas in
Carneros but the soils are very unique - made up of a rocky/cobbly
alluvial with underlying volcanic tufa. The tufa acts as a wick,
pulling moisture out of the soil early in the season and releasing it
back as the summer progresses. It is a very nice system, not
unlike the soils in Burgundy where limestone substitutes for this ash
layer. We chose Swan selection and the Dijon 115 clone for their
complementary attributes. Swan providing deep, briary blackberry
and dark cherry flavors and Dijon 115 providing mid-tone plum, layers
of spice, and high flying perfume. |
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