2013 Roadhouse “Green Label” Pinot Noir $59

()

(Not Available For Retail Purchase)

Winery Tasting Notes: “Grown on Alluvial washdown with a Double Guyot Trellising System, Sangiacomo Vineyard at Roberts Road in the Petaluma Gap, gives dark fruit and lush flavors, the grapes here are our last crops harvested in the Sonoma region.” 

Other Wine Process Statistics:

• Grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted ~ 100% de-stemmed

• 5-day pre-fermentation cold maceration ~ 14 days total cuvaison

• BGY, Merit & Assmenhausen fermentation

• Hand-punched in one ton bins, three times per day

• Inoculated malolactic fermentation in barrel

• Aged 16 months in 100% French Oak: 20% new / 60% blend of 1 & 2 yr. old

• Coopers: François Frères – Radoux & LeRoi

• Bottled: Oct 2014 – 100% unfined and unfiltered

Blend: 100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol Level: 14.9%
Cases Produced: 400
Winemaker Name: Eric Hall
Maturity: 2018 – 2026

Pairings:  Chicken, turkey, duck w/ thyme, oregano or basil.  Chanterelles, maitakes or morel mushrooms.  Soft cheeses.

Staff Review:  DREW MOFFAT – “TLC” (Tender/Love/Care) is the name of the game with this wine and if skipped over the above list of stats…make sure you count how many times “hand” was used.  Everything from picking, sorting, punching down (3x per day) and even dipped waxed tops was done by hand.

We found this outstanding Pinot Noir like we do with many of our wines…by way of customer request.  I feel after 14 years in the biz, that I have a pretty good knowledge for all California wineries but this one definitely stumped me.  After bringing in the 2013 Roadhouse “Tina Marie” Pinot Noir for our by-the-glass program I thought it would behoove me to ask the fine folks at Roadhouse…” What else do you have?”  Well, the 2013 Roadhouse “Green Label” Pinot Noir was the one that we felt best fit our wine club members budget and flavor profile.

Its elegant and mature which is what you would expect from fruit coming out of Sangiacomo Vineyard and/or the Petaluma Gap.  Flavors/style are highly comparable to some of the big boys such; Martinelli, William Selyem and Kosta Browne but less the price.  Unfiltered and unfined this wine will definitely be cloudy and carry a little sediment (more with time) but that is the true backbone of this wine.  This is a special bottle for you pinot lovers so give it some time to mature even more by laying it down for a nap over the next year or two!  Cheers!