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2012 Symposium Pinot Noir

Wine Specs

Vintage

2012

Varietal

Pinot Noir

Appellation

Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast

Harvest Date

September 2-29, 2012

Aging

10 months in 100% French oak; 20% new

Bottling Date

August 2013, Unfined & Unfiltered

Alcohol %

13.8

Robert Parker

This Symposium Pinot Noir is a dazzling garnet hue with ruby tones. Perfumed bright black raspberry, blueberry and violet aromas linger with hints of baking spice and the grounding earthy bramble that can be attributed to the 4 % addition of Pinotage. The luxurious entry offers complex layers of raspberry and dark plum that intermingle with a whisper of warm sassafras spice. The structure is seductive with a lush mid-palate and controlled tannins. There is purity to the lingering finish where the vineyard’s signature minerality and acidity accompany the expansive fruit with great finesse. 403 cases produced.

93 Points - Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
The 2012 Pinot Noir Symposium was aged in 20% new French oak and is actually the only wine that is not 100% Pinot Noir. It is blended with – of all things – 4% Pinotage. There are plenty of sweet cherries, raspberries and floral notes, followed by an earthy, spicy, medium-bodied wine with good structure and finely tuned tannins. The acidity is good and the wine fresh, pure and delicious. Early - Drink 2016-2026

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes

This Symposium Pinot Noir is a dazzling garnet hue with ruby tones. Perfumed bright black raspberry, blueberry and violet aromas linger with hints of baking spice and the grounding earthy bramble that can be attributed to the 4% addition of Pinotage. The luxurious entry offers complex layers of raspberry and dark plum that intermingle with a whisper of warm sassafras spice. The structure is seductive with a lush mid-palate and controlled tannins. There is purity to the lingering finish where the vineyard’s signature minerality and acidity accompany the expansive fruit with great finesse.

Vineyard Notes

The 2012 vintage got off to a very slow start. It was cold and wet throughout the spring so the buds did not swell until surprisingly late in the season. As budbreak was so late, the weather was generally warm and stable during bloom – except for one worrying rainy day that did not affect the crop – only our composure. With such a late start to the vintage, there was less time left to ripen the grapes so we dropped a fair amount of fruit early on so that each vine would have less fruit to ripen and the harvest would not stretch on into inclement weather. The season veered between cold and extreme heat. We harvested when the weather was cooler and we were very satisfied with the high quality of the fruit.

Winemaker Notes

The grapes for this Pinot Noir were handpicked during the cool hours of the night in 2 gallon trays. After hand sorting, the fruit was cold soaked for several days and fermented in a combination of 5 and 10 ton tanks. The caps were punched down 1 or 2 times per day, depending on the stage of the fermentation. The wines were then barreled in a combination of 20% new and 80% neutral French oak. Throughout the 10 months of barrel aging, the clones and different vineyard lots were kept separate to maintain their distinct flavor profiles and structural components as blending elements. The wine was bottled unfined & unfiltered. After extensive blending trials we decided on 96% Pinot Noir with 4% Pinotage.

Other Notes

SELECTIONS: Calera, Pommard & Dijon clone 777 ~ Pinotage: MM1

Tech Sheet