2017 Starscape Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
In Stock
Such a beautiful bouquet of violets, boysenberry jam, white pepper and cranberry… On the palate this wine is fascinating; bright, juicy, dense, mouth-coating, savory and rich with flavors of plum, rhubarb, barrel spice, gravel, blackberry, cherry, herbs and a whisper of moist earth. It has so many layers… This wine will reward you with airing time in the decanter or glass.
Starscape Vineyard is located on the southern end of an area known as the Middle Reach of the Russian River. The Middle Reach is arguably the most iconic area for Russian River Pinot noir.
Wine Specs
Vintage
2017
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Harvest Date
Sept. 11 & 27
Aging
20 months, 50% new French Oak
Alcohol %
14.6
Wine Enthusiast
91
Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Such a beautiful bouquet of violets, boysenberry jam, white pepper and cranberry… On the palate this wine is fascinating; bright, juicy, dense, mouthcoating, savory and rich with flavors of plum, rhubarb, barrel spice, gravel, blackberry, cherry, herbs and a whisper of moist earth. It has so many layers... This wine will reward you with airing time in the decanter or glass.
Awards
American Fine Wine Competition - Double Gold
Vineyard Notes
Starscape Vineyard (previously named Floodgate and prior to that, Mark West Vineyard) is located on Trenton-Healdsburg Road on the southern end of an area known as the Middle Reach of the Russian River. The Middle Reach is arguably the most iconic area for Russian River Pinot noir. We source Dijon 777 and an old block of Pommard from a south-facing slope composed of Laniger loam soils. An East-facing slope is the home of a younger planting of Dijon 828, one of the more recent imports to California.
Production Notes
Starscape was picked on two dates; September 11th and 27th. The stems were well lignified, so we included nearly 25% as a whole cluster component. The grapes were sorted and the rest destemmed, then rested until an ambient fermentation took off about a week after harvest. The fermentation, along with frequent punch-downs, went to completion a week later, when the fermenter was sealed up for an extended maceration. About forty days after picking, the tank was drained, the remaining grapes were pressed, and the wine was barreled, using barrels from five different coopers to help add layers of complexity; we selected barrels from all five of our favorite coopers to help create complexity: Marcel Cadet, Remond, François Frères, Dargaud et Jaeglé, and Rousseau. Malolactic fermentation occurred in barrel. The wine remained unracked until just before blending and bottling.
Production
16 barrels / 387 cases produced