Nalle 2004 Pinot Noir, Hopkins Ranch

Varietal Notes:
Finding good Pinot Noir grapes is no mean feat and, like no other variety, Pinot wine production is full of surprises. Our friends, Bob and Toni Hopkins, have a lovely piece of land in the Russian River Valley that, in addition to our Pinot, yields outstanding Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Meunier. Bob and I kicked around the idea of making Pinot Noir for several years and in 1998 it finally happened.

Winemaker Notes:
This is our seventh vintage of Pinot Noir from Hopkins Ranch. It is a blend of 50% Swan clone and 50% clone 667 grown on alluvial soils deposited by the Russian River. The crop is limited to less than three tons/acre giving a wine of concentration and finesse. Behind its lightly hued façade is an unmistakable Pinot character of rose petals, white cherries and vanilla. Bottle age will complex things with rhubarb and saddle leather. This 2004 is a tad more pump than the 2003; more like the 1999 and the 2002.

Technical Notes:

Appellation:	Russian River Valley
Vineyard:	Hopkins Ranch
Varietal Content:	100% Pinot Noir
Fermentation:	150 and 1250 gallon open tops, frequent punch downs with 7-15 days of skin contact
Oak:	40% new French Burgundian oak
Alcohol:	13.8%
TA:	6.5 g/L
pH:	3.44
Production:	260 cases