2001
Paul Hobbs Pinot Noir, Hyde Vineyard Carneros, Napa Valley
Winemaker's Notes
Medium-deep red/blue color. The nose reveals wild strawberry, floral, black tea, and harvest spice aromas. On the palate the wine displays zesty cherry, raspberry, and red licorice flavors, with a sweet oak component adding depth and complexity. This is a supple, balanced wine with a lively cherry character that lingers on the finish. Alcohol 14.7%.
Diligent work in the vineyard to limit a largecrop set helped optimize flavor intensity and richness in the grapes. Cool weather in late September and October extended the harvest providing for enhanced flavor development.
Winemaking
Hand harvested grapes
Fermented in small 4 ton open-top stainless steel fermentors
4-5 day cold soak, 22 days total extended maceration
Cap hand punched
Fermentation by indigenous yeasts only
Native malolactic fermentation in barrels
Aged 15 months in small French oak barrels, 68% new
