Au Bon Climat - 2019 - Sanford & Benedict Vineyard Pinot Noir - 750 ml.

With a mantle of hard, siliceous chert-gravel covering deep, well-drained soils, combined with the cool climate (Region 1), this vineyard is a perfect medium for quality Pinot and Chardonnay. We selected grapes from one of the “old vine, own rooted” sections at Sanford and Benedict. After careful hand picking in the early morning hours, the grapes arrived at the winery nice and cold. A cold, extended soak and slower, extended fermentation assisted in the gradual extraction of additional aromas and flavors as the alcohol content slowly rises. About 50% was whole cluster fermented. After the grapes reached dryness, the grapes were pressed, and the wine was put in French oak François Frères barrels, 50% new. The wine was gently racked in the late spring and was returned to barrel for a total of 20 months. No fining or filtration was necessary.