VINEYARD Keefer Ranch
CLONES 115, Pommard, 777, 828, Calera, Swan, 2A
ORIENTATION North/East
TRELLISING Bi-lateral Cordon
SOIL Goldridge and Josephine Loam
FERMENTATION 50% stainless steel, 25% concrete, 25% wood, 4% whole cluster
OAK 52% new French oak for 17 months, 38% stainless tank for 4 months, finished in 54% wood tank for 4 months
ALCOHOL 14.3%
pH 3.62
TA 5.49 g/L
AROMA
Lifted elegant red berry fruit aromas of just-picked raspberries, blackberry and bright boysenberry.
PALATE
Compact, focused and precise, with soft curves, integrated tannins, and a refined finish.
Planted in 1996, and featuring an array of elite clones, the dry-farmed Keefer Ranch is located in the coolest part of the Russian River Valley, where wind and fog lengthen the growing season and produce one of our most refined and graceful Pinot Noirs. We began working with this site in 2005, in collaboration with the legendary Marcy Keefer.
In the winery, we used an array of fermentation vessels to showcase different aspects of this remarkable vineyard. The resulting wine offers strawberry, rhubarb, and boysenberry flavors that are fresh and precise, with plush tannins and radiant acidity adding to this wine’s elegant expressiveness.
Fact of Note: 17 different small-batch ferments.
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.
