2005 Pinot Noir - Russian River Valley / Hallberg Vineyard

91 points - Wine Enthusiast Magazine

GRAPE SOURCE
The 100-acre Hallberg Vineyard is named for previous owners Don and Marcia Hallberg and today owned by a small group of investors headed by Brice Jones, formerly of Sonoma Cutrer. The vineyard is meticulously farmed by Kirk Lokka, also a veteran of Sonoma Cutrer, and the commitment to quality of the current owners coupled with the site’s exceptional soils give this property boundless potential.

WINEMAKING
The clone 777 Pinot Noir grapes from Block M of the Hallberg Vineyard were hand picked at 24.5 degrees brix during the cool night. The fruit was then hand sorted, de-stemmed and moved to fermenters uncrushed for a 5-day cold soak. Then the grapes were inoculated with Assmanhausen yeast for primary fermentation with regular punch-downs. The wine underwent malolactic fermentation and matured in a combination of new, 1-year-old and 2-year-old French oak barrels for over 13 months before bottling.

WINEMAKER'S NOTES
A wine of stunning depth and concentration, our Hallberg Pinot Noir is simultaneously opulent and elegant, opening with a deep nose of black cherries and expanding in the mouth to show pretty spice and blueberry highlights braced with firm tannins and ample acidity through the long, supple finish. This boldly-flavored wine is built to last. The 2005 Hallberg Pinot Noir pairs beautifully with grilled Lamb Shish Kebabs.

Bottled: December 2006
Winemaker: Susan Reed
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 14.2%
Case Production: 304
Acid/pH: 0.63/3.45
Released: September 2007
Appellation: Russian River Valley