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1996
Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir,
Hyde Vineyard
Carneros, Napa Valley


Winemaker's Notes
Medium-deep ruby color; ripe black raspberry, bing cherry, forest floor, hints of smoke and bacon, brown spices, vanilla bean aromas; rich and luxurious texture, gives an amazingly long impression on the palate, packed with pure pinot fruit. Really makes me hungry. I feel very fortunate to have this new block of two exceptional pinot clones grown exclusively for us by the Hyde family. Alcohol 13.8%.

Vineyard
Owner/Manager   Hyde Family / Larry Hyde
Vineyard   Hyde Vineyard
Appellation   Carneros, Napa Valley
Clones   Cabernet sauvignon: See (aka backus) Pinot noir: Swan, Calera and Beba
Vineyard Age   Calera-15 years, Swan-11 years, Beba-4 years
Site   Alluvial sandy-clay loam, gentle east facing hillside
Yield   less than 3 tons/acre

Harvest
Harvest Date   September 1 and 9, 1996
Harvest Brix   Calera-26.0, Swan-25.8, Beba-25.3
Growing Season   Excellent growing season; mild early autumn temperatures gave the fruit added time on the vine to mature slowly and fully; no precipitation at harvest.

Winemaking
  • Hand harvested grapes
  • Fermented in small open-top stainless steel fermentors
  • 4 - 5 day cold soak, average 18 total days maceration
  • Fermentation by indigenous yeasts only
  • Malo-lactic fermentation in barrels
  • Aged 10 months in barrels, 47% new French oak
  • Bottled unfined, unfiltered late July 1997

Cases Produced
872