VINEYARD Giusti Ranch
CLONES 115, 777, 667
ORIENTATION North/South & East/West
TRELLISING Uni-lateral cordon
SOIL Goldridge
FERMENTATION 1-ton bins, 5-ton wood open top / 5 day cold soak / 9 day ferment / 1% whole cluster
OAK 32% new French oak / 16 months
ALCOHOL 14.6%
pH 3.39
TA 6.25 g/L
AROMA
Cinnamon spice, rich red and black berries.
PALATE
Deeply textured dark fruits. Black cherry and blackberry fruit compote, layers of fruit flavors with spice.
The Giusti family’s Sonoma County roots are about as deep as you can find in California. We’ve made wine from their fruit since 2004 and have enjoyed a great relationship with patriarch Angelo and his kin. They farm their Forestville vineyard with uncommon attention to detail and work closely with us to fine tune their efforts in order to help us get the highest quality possible. This vineyard has slightly warmer days than others we source, developing darker fruit flavors in the grapes that grow around the old homestead.
This property charts the agricultural history of our region well. Farmed by the same family since 1870’s, the ranch has been planted to olives, cherries, prunes, apples and, of course, grapes. A fig tree, planted by the original founding family, still thrives on site.
Fact of Note: The hill was once known as ‘la colina’.
THE RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY IS hallowed ground for lovers of great Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Here, the vines are submersed in clockwork fog and daytime temperature swings, which preserve the natural acidity essential to elegant, age-worthy wines. We work with a handful of the most beloved vineyards from this remarkable wine region considered by many to be the heartland of California Pinot Noir.
Within Russian River Valley, in a town tucked away from the main roads, you’ll find a community ranging from writer to artisan. The town of Graton is an area where local winemakers and growers take a respite and enjoy some of the many popular yet under-the-radar restaurants. During harvest, the little town is full of life and bustling.
