Manzoni 2004 Reserve Pinot Noir

Tasting Notes:
This wine is elegant and refined with complex berry aromas and good tannin structure. Red plum and lavender accentuate the nose while toasty caramel is evident in the flavor, a result of new French oak aging. This wine pairs well with moderately spiced foods such as grilled fish, chicken, and pork.

Vineyard Notes:
Our Vineyard is located in the Santa Lucia Highlands appellation of Monterey County just west of the town of Gonzales. Our Reserve Pinot consists primarily of 115 & 777 clones from the Dijon selection imported from France in the mid 1990's. Both clones are known for their contribution to the great reds of Burgundy.

Vintage Notes:
The early part of March surprised us all with 13 consecutive days above 80 F causing bud break to occur early in all varieties. After this heat spell broke we entered a period of four months of below average temperatures, slowing maturation in the vineyards to a snails pace. Mother Nature changed her mind in the first week of September with unseasonable high temperatures for the remainder of harvest. As a result, harvest was compressed into a few hectic weeks where everything ripened at the same time.

Winemaking Notes:
Hand harvested fruit was delivered to the winery and about 15 percent was transferred by hand as whole clusters to the bottom of one ton fermentors. The balance of the fruit was crushed on top of them and allowed to “cold soak” for upwards of four days prior to fermentation. After fermentation the wine was pressed into a combination of mostly new French oak barrels where it matured for 12 months.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	Santa Lucia Highlands
Harvest:	September 9, 2004
Brix:	26.4
pH:	3.65
Alcohol:	14.9%
TA:	7.32 gram/liter
Production:	81 Cases