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2017 Pinot Noir

Wine Specs

Vintage

2017

Varietal

Pinot Noir

Appellation

Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast

Harvest Date

August 31 - September 19, 2017

Aging

10 months in French oak; 35% new

Bottling Date

August 2018

Alcohol %

13.5

Wine Advocate

From our mountain vineyard that overlooks the Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area, Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery produces limited quantities of single vineyard, Estate grown, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinotage. With spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean less than one mile away, the vineyard is divided into 32 separate blocks, one-half to two acres in size, that range in elevation from 1700 down to 1200 feet above sea level. Owners, Lester and Linda Schwartz with their small crew began preparing the 52 acre vineyard in 1994. It took them 4 years of preparation before they could begin planting. The year 2000 marked the first vintage from the Fort Ross Vineyard.

93 Points - Wine Spectator
Suave, with a delicate mix of vibrant cherry, currant and huckleberry flavors that are backed by crunchy acidity. Shows minerally richness on the fine-textured finish. Drink now through 2025.

93 Points - Wine & Spirits
Initially cardamom-spicy, this wine's bright berry flavors leave quickly, begging the question, Will it open? A day later, the wine answers with a resounding Yes, lengthening out in a rash of strawberries and sandstone abrasion. It's a naked evocation of Fort Ross' coastal ridges, a pleasure to decant for grilled seafood. (627 cases). - Joshua Greene

92 Points - Wine Advocate
Scented of cranberries and red and black cherries with charcuterie, dusty earth and woodsmoke, the 2017 Pinot Noir Estate Fort Ross Vineyard has a light to medium-bodied palate with a good interplay of fruit, earth and meaty nuance. It has a grainy, fresh frame and finishes long.

92 Points - Jeb Dunnuck
Lots of red currants, mulled cherries, and spicy, dried herb-like notes emerge from the 2017 Pinot Noir Fort Ross Vineyard, a medium-bodied, elegant Pinot Noir with ripe tannins and terrific overall balance. It shows the more savory, concentrated style of the vintage and is an outstanding, complex 2017 to enjoy over the coming 7-8 years or so.

92 Points - Wine Enthusiast
Robustly built and yet elegant throughout, this estate-grown wine is forested with black-tea notes that meld against a foundation of bright red berry. Ample tannin structure evolves in the glass to show a nice supple quality and flecks of crushed rock and mineral.

92 Points - James Suckling
Super perfumed and complex, this has such richly spiced red-cherry aromas with a gently earthy edge, too. The palate holds a taut core of fine tannin that sweeps up plenty of ripe red-cherry flavor. Drink or hold. September 2019.

Wine Profile

Tasting Notes

Bright aromas of raspberry and bing cherry meld with earthy spice and a hint of licorice. Cherry, raspberry and red plum greet the palate followed by savory touches. Refined, supple tannins and the Fort Ross Vineyard signature minerality are revealed through the layered, mouthwatering finish. With its vibrant acidity and extraordinary balance this classic coastal Pinot Noir will elegantly evolve.

Vineyard Notes

The 2017 growing season welcomed generous rainfall for the first several months of the year. After five drought years the soils were hydrated and our irrigation pond was brimming. Bud-break occurred in mid-March followed by a warmer than usual spring which brought an early fruit-set, fortunately, by then the rains had subsided.The summer enjoyed mild to average, 80-85° temperatures, allowing the grapes to develop ideal complexity and flavors with optimal development. During the first week of September, all of California experienced a heat spike, with this the first few blocks were harvested. Temperatures then mellowed during the remainder of harvest, allowing each variety to be picked at the ideal time. Pinot Noir was unhurriedly harvested between August 31–September 19, one of the many advantages of growing grapes overlooking the cool Pacific Ocean. Chardonnay was picked September 10–14 and finally the slower ripening Pinotage on October 3rd. Fortunately, all of our fruit was picked prior to the heartbreaking 2017 Sonoma fires. The vintage brought in lower yields, producing wines with great depth and concentration, while the hydrated soils delivered vibrant aromatics and acidity.

Production Notes

Bottled Unfined & Unfiltered, Clones: Calera, Pommard, Swan & Dijon 115

Winemaker Notes

The grapes for this Pinot Noir were handpicked during the cool hours of the night in small two-gallon picking 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 barreled in a combination of 35% new and 65% 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.

Other Notes

627 cases produced, Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni

2017 "FRV" Pinot Noir Tech Sheet