2005
Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir, Ulises Valdez Vineyard Russian River Valley
Winemaker's Notes
Violet in color, this stately pinot is exotic from beginning to end, with tons of blackberry, spice and leather on the nose, a firmly structured, velvety palate of plum and pomegranate, and more spice to accompany ripe tannins on the finish. Alcohol 14.7%
Vineyard
Owner/Manager
Ulises Valdez
Vineyard
Ulises Valdez Vineyard
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Clones
Calera, Beba
Vineyard Age
4 years
Site
Goldridge, sandy clay loam soils
Yield
3.1 tons /acre
Harvest
Harvest Date
September 23
Harvest Brix
26.1°
Growing Season
Extended, cool spring weather resulted in late bud break. An ideal, long, temperate growing season followed, allowing for slow, full and even ripening of the fruit. Harvest began later than usual. The resulting wines can be characterized as rich and elegant with gorgeous aromatics.
Winemaking
• Hand-harvested grapes
• Fermented in small, open-top stainless steel fermentors with indigenous yeasts
• 6-day cold soak, 19 days total maceration
• Hand-punched cap
• Concurrent, spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels; 5 months to completion
• Aged 15 months in French oak barrels: Francois Freres, Damy, Remond,; 80% new
• Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2007
