By Starmont Winery and Vineyards
2017 Pinot Noir Coury Clone

Technical Details
AVA: Carneros
Vineyard: RMS Vineyard, Block E
Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol: 13.80%
TA: 5.35 g/L
pH: 3.86

Producer Notes
Since Starmont first appeared on a label in 1989, the name has been recognized for classically styled varietal wines that are expressive and approachable. Now, nearly 30 years later, led by winemaker Jeff Crawford, Starmont is producing some of their best wines ever as part of the Merryvale Family of Wines.

Winemaking
The Coury clone is named for Charles Coury, who brought this clone to Carneros over 50 years ago. Charles Coury identified Carneros as one of the pre-eminent cool-climate wine regions in the world, and we pay homage to him using his namesake clone. Handpicked on September 6th, the fruit was 100% destemmed into open-top fermenters, cold soaked for three days, and fermented at an average temperature of 80 degrees F for five days using native yeast. After a six-day extended maceration for a total of 14 days on the skins, the wine was pressed and racked into barrels. The wine spent a total of 19 months in French oak barrels (25% new). It was racked once after seven months, then again just before bottling.

Tasting Notes
This wine comes from a single vineyard, but we think what makes it interesting and unique is the clonal material of this fruit. The Coury Clone's classic expression on the nose shows aromas of mixed berries but tends toward red berries such as strawberry and raspberry, with the herbal note expressing a hint of juniper. On the palate, the 2017 has traded the somewhat rustic tannins for a refined and silky experience buoyed by fresh acidity for structure. It's a very approachable wine.
[Information provided by Miller Squared]