2006
Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir, Ulises Valdez Vineyard Russian River Valley
Winemaker's Notes
Ulises Valdez is a highly-skilled grower who shares our passion and dedication to excellence in the vineyard. His Laguna Ranch Vineyard shows its potential for intensity and complexity with the 2006 vintage. Opening with a nose of violets and roasted coffee, it offers a well-delineated palate of dark fruits and cola, overlaid with toffee and allspice. Ripe, focused tannins and fine acidity round out this sophisticated pinot noir whose finish goes on and on. Alcohol 14.8%
Vineyard
Owner/Manager
Ulises Valdez
Vineyard
Ulises Valdez Vineyard
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Clones
Calera, Beba, Swan
Vineyard Age
Planted in 2001
Site
Goldridge, sandy clay loam soils
Yield
3.3 tons/acre
Harvest
Harvest Date
September 25-28
Harvest Brix
24.6°
Growing Season
2006 was slightly cooler overall than 2005 and began with delayed bud break due to long, wet spring. The weather warmed in May, continuing through summer and into fall to provide the extended growing season needed for fruit to ripen fully. Valdez Vineyard was harvested on September 25 & 28, escaping mid-harvest rains that arrived the following week.
Winemaking
• Hand-harvested grapes
• Fermented in small, open-top stainless steel fermentors with indigenous yeasts
• 5 to 6 day cold soak, 18 days total maceration
• Hand-punched cap
• Concurrent, spontaneous malolactic fermentation in barrels; 4 months to completion
• Aged 16 months in French oak barrels: Francois Freres, Cadus, Damy, Remond; 74% new
• Unblended, unfined and unfiltered; bottled January 2008
