BLUE BOOK TASTE PROFILE

Appellation: Chalone
Varietal: Pinot Noir


TASTE BENCHMARKS
  Profile #1
Appearance Medium to medium-light.
Aroma Spiced cherry and pomegranite aromas. Intense violet bouquet one sees on limestone in Burgundy, Cassis and Barberesco.
Flavor Sweet and extremely minerally.
Balance Quite austere.
PRODUCTION CORRELATIONS
Oenological Traditional burgundian practices: in barrel fermentation, ful malolactic, lees stirring. The anti-oxidative power of lees, mineral energy and a little tannin gives the wines great longevity but may also cause them to be closed and even reductive in youth, and thus extensive ageing in old wood is required.
Viticultural Minimum tillage practices prevent erosion and add to minerality in the wines.
Terroir One of the few enclaves in California with true limestone underlying in places the granitic soils. High altitude gives long days and high incident light.