Wine Article
2001 J. Wilkes Pinot Noir Bien Nacido Vineyard Q Block
Last edited on 6/4/2012 by alexparr
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Bien Nacido Vineyards is located on south facing slopes in the Santa Maria Valley and is recognized as one of the premier vineyards in California for Pinot Noir grapes. This 2001 Pinot Noir was produced from grapes located in Block Q, which is known for well-drained, shaly loam soils. The vines are planted north to south allowing for excellent sunlight penetration into the canopy.
Vintage:
The 2001 vintage was textbook Santa Maria: warm with an early spring, cool summer and enough heat at harvest to ripen the fruit. Bloom was short and consistent, thus providing for very evenly ripened clusters at harvest. The crop was medium to light with an average yield of 2.68 tons per acre.
Winemaking:
The grapes were grown in a section on the west end of Block Q and were harvested September 17th at a sugar content of 23.8 degrees brix. The grapes were harvested right after sunrise to ensure the fruit would be delivered cold for pressing. In addition to very evenly ripe clusters, there was exactly one leaf in the load, so sorting went very quickly. At the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed and put into two-ton fermenters, then inoculated after a 24-hour cold soak. Due to the coldness of the grapes, fermentation didn’t start for another two days. During the cold soak, a portion of juice was bled from the tanks and put in new barrels for fermentation. The lots were punched down four times daily and the must was pressed when dry, then the wines were settled and barreled down. Malolactic fermentation started spontaneously in the barrel and finished after about three months. The two different fermentation lots were kept separate in barrels for 12 months in 100% new oak and then blended and bottled in Sept 2002.
Tasting Notes:
Color: Ruby Red
Nose: Very forward cherry aromas with underlying raspberry and black fruit.
Palate: Black fruit flavors with hints of cola spice and smoke. This wine has good acidity and, despite the high percentage of new oak, enough tannin to give the wine aging potential without overpowering the fruit.
Technical Data:
Release Date: October 1, 2003
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County
Varietal Profile: 100% Pinot Noir
Yield at Harvest: 2.68 tons per acre
Alcohol: 13.81% by volume
Total Acidity: 7.00 grams/liter
PH: 3.51
Cases Produced 160
Source
Vintage:
The 2001 vintage was textbook Santa Maria: warm with an early spring, cool summer and enough heat at harvest to ripen the fruit. Bloom was short and consistent, thus providing for very evenly ripened clusters at harvest. The crop was medium to light with an average yield of 2.68 tons per acre.
Winemaking:
The grapes were grown in a section on the west end of Block Q and were harvested September 17th at a sugar content of 23.8 degrees brix. The grapes were harvested right after sunrise to ensure the fruit would be delivered cold for pressing. In addition to very evenly ripe clusters, there was exactly one leaf in the load, so sorting went very quickly. At the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed and put into two-ton fermenters, then inoculated after a 24-hour cold soak. Due to the coldness of the grapes, fermentation didn’t start for another two days. During the cold soak, a portion of juice was bled from the tanks and put in new barrels for fermentation. The lots were punched down four times daily and the must was pressed when dry, then the wines were settled and barreled down. Malolactic fermentation started spontaneously in the barrel and finished after about three months. The two different fermentation lots were kept separate in barrels for 12 months in 100% new oak and then blended and bottled in Sept 2002.
Tasting Notes:
Color: Ruby Red
Nose: Very forward cherry aromas with underlying raspberry and black fruit.
Palate: Black fruit flavors with hints of cola spice and smoke. This wine has good acidity and, despite the high percentage of new oak, enough tannin to give the wine aging potential without overpowering the fruit.
Technical Data:
Release Date: October 1, 2003
Appellation: Santa Maria Valley, Santa Barbara County
Varietal Profile: 100% Pinot Noir
Yield at Harvest: 2.68 tons per acre
Alcohol: 13.81% by volume
Total Acidity: 7.00 grams/liter
PH: 3.51
Cases Produced 160
Source