Tech Notes
Wine Details
Jeb Dunnuck
James Suckling
By Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery
2019 The Terraces Pinot Noir, Fort Ross Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview
Winemaker's Note
From our mountain vineyard that overlooks the Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area, Fort Ross Vineyard and 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, ranging in elevation from 1,200 to 1,700 feet above sea level. Owners Lester and Linda Schwartz, with their small crew, began preparing the 52-acre vineyard in 1994. It took them four years of preparation before they could start planting. The year 2000 marked the first vintage from the Fort Ross Vineyard.
Vintage
2019 was a very curious year. Early in the season, the vineyard received a light sprinkling of snow, followed by some frost - which is most surprising at the vineyard's altitude (1,200 ft - 1,700 ft) and our location, less than a mile from the Pacific Ocean. For the last 20 years of viticulture, we had no need for frost protection. We waited to see what kind of crop would develop and were pleased to announce that buds popped out, and we even needed to drop a significant amount of fruit. Later in the season, we had a brief heat wave that reached over 100 degrees! As we pick at night, we still have cool grapes to start winemaking. Then, just as harvest was ending, we experienced howling 60-mile-an-hour winds that blew open locked doors. The 2019 modest crop has produced wines with a luscious mouthfeel, an elegant, restrained acid profile, and a satisfying balance. Pinot Noir was unhurriedly harvested between September 16th - October 7th; Chardonnay was picked from September 19th - October 7th, and finally, the slower ripening Pinotage on October 8th.
Winemaking
The Terraces is crafted from 100% Calera clone planted on our single unique Terraced Block #11. Comprised of rocky Hugo Boomer sandy loam soils, this block was painstakingly carved out of the rugged hillside that faces the cool Pacific. With its steep southwest aspect, this may be one of the most extreme plantings on the Sonoma Coast. The grapes for this Pinot Noir were handpicked during the cool night hours in 2-gallon trays. After hand sorting, the fruit was cold-soaked for several days. Fermentation occurred with native yeast in 5- and 10-ton stainless steel 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 50% new and 50% neutral French oak.
Tasting Notes
This is a pure expression of a single clone from our unique terraced block, capturing the essence, character, and purity of the Calera clone. Dark cherry, black raspberry, boysenberry, and a whiff of delicate tea rose aromas emerge from the glass with complexity and finesse. The captivating palate weaves together layers of dark fruits, including plums, bramble, and black currant, with fine threads of orange peel, musk, and chocolate. Supple, youthful tannins give way to the velvety texture that lingers throughout the plush finish. This complete, well-integrated, finely structured Pinot Noir is certain to evolve gracefully for years to come.
Technical Details
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast
Vineyard: Fort Ross Vineyard
Selections: 100% Calera
Aging: 11 months in 100% French oak; 50% new oak barrels
Harvested: Sept. 16th - Oct 7th, 2019
Bottled: August 31st, 2020; unfined and unfiltered
Winemaker: Jeff Pisoni
[Information provided by Matador Vino]
Unit Size | 750.00 ML |
Varietal | Pinot Noir
|
Vintage | 2019 |
Grape | Pinot Noir |
Country | United States |
Region | Sonoma Coast
|
2019 Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery Pinot Noir The Terraces
Producer Fort Ross Vineyard and Winery
Location: USA, California, North Coast, Sonoma County, Fort Ross-Seaview
Color: Red
Rating: 94+
Tasting Date: 7/22/2021
Reviewed By: Jeb Dunnuck
Source: Sonoma: Looking at the 2019s
The 2019 Pinot Noir The Terraces is a more ethereal, perfumed, mineral-laced beauty offering gorgeous light red fruits, dried strawberry, crushed stone, and white flower-like aromas and flavors. Playing in the medium-bodied end of the spectrum, it still brings plenty of intensity as well as structure, and while it certainly has up-front charm today, it’s another wine from this estate that will benefit from a year or three of bottle age and have a long life. It’s beautifully done.
Fort Ross Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast Fort Ross-Seaview Fort Ross Vineyard The Terraces 2019
Friday, Mar 15, 2024
Score: 93
Color: Red
Country: United States
Region: California
Vintage: 2019
Firm and chalky Pinot with rich red fruit and a spiced, earthy character. Medium- to full-bodied with crunchy tannins and a velvety, lengthy aftertaste. Drink or hold.