2018 Clarice Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir

2018 Clarice Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir

 By the Numbers

• 72.7% new French Oak (5 Francois Freres 3 Year air-dried VTG M toast, 3 Boutes Gran Reserve and 3 2017 barrels)
• 76.2% Whole Cluster Fermented
• Non-inoculated primary and malolactic fermentation
• 14.08% alcohol
• 3.64 pH
• 5.9 g/l TA

 No Numbers…Just Words

The 2018 Clarice Wine Company Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir originates in two sections of the Garys’ Vineyard. These sections at opposite ends of the vineyard and are planted on two different rootstocks, and yet I decided to sample them, pick them, and ferment them as one section—thus assuring that the final wine is a mixture of riper and less ripe fruit. Harvest was on September 17, 2018 and, after a 7 day cold soak, the must was allowed to warm and the juice fermented without inoculation. During this cold soak period, approximately 20 percent of the juice was bled off to concentrate the must. Malolactic fermentation was also spontaneous. Ultimately, a strict barrel selection was completed with only 58% of the barrels making the final blend. The wine was bottled without fining or filtration.