Wine Article
2005 Pine Ridge Vineyards Merlot Crimson Creek
Last edited on 1/20/2008 by rturko
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From Pine Ridge Website:
ORIGIN: Sourced entirely from our Napa Valley estate vineyards, this wine consists of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. This Bordeaux style blending contributes structure, complexity and ageability to the wine.
VINEYARD: Farmed by our own crews, our vineyards are densely planted to as many as 4,000 vines per acre. The resulting stress on the vines enhances flavor concentration and complexity in the grapes. The Merlot portion is a blend of clones 181 from France and #3 from U.C. Davis. In addition to 2004 being a light tonnage year, yields were kept low to concentrate flavors and enhance structure. Fruit was hand-harvested from our estate vineyards in Carneros, Rutherford, Stags Leap District and Oakville in September and October of 2005.
WINEMAKING: Since 2002 we have expanded our sorting capacity for all grapes to include hand-sorting of both clusters and individual berries prior to light crushing. With this additional level of quality control we are able to remove all stem material along with damaged or substandard fruit, allowing the most expressive characteristics of the vintage to be revealed. The wine underwent an extended maceration period of 20-31 days to develop supple tannins and rich, full texture. Following a 15-month aging period in 45% new chateau-style French oak barrels, the wine was bottled without fining in May 2007.
TASTING NOTES: With sweet scents of baked berries on the nose, the 2005 Crimson Creek Merlot exudes warm cherry and cranberry aromas, woven with vanilla, brown sugar, white pepper and a slight minty nuance. Sweet and full-bodied on the palate, the soft, fleshy fruit flavor comes to the forefront, delivering with it the firm, structured tannins that give way to an impressive finish of toast and white pepper. This wine may be enjoyed now or cellared for up to eight years.
The vintage produced 7,255 (750ml) cases. 1.5L formats are also available.
ORIGIN: Sourced entirely from our Napa Valley estate vineyards, this wine consists of 78% Merlot, 20% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc. This Bordeaux style blending contributes structure, complexity and ageability to the wine.
VINEYARD: Farmed by our own crews, our vineyards are densely planted to as many as 4,000 vines per acre. The resulting stress on the vines enhances flavor concentration and complexity in the grapes. The Merlot portion is a blend of clones 181 from France and #3 from U.C. Davis. In addition to 2004 being a light tonnage year, yields were kept low to concentrate flavors and enhance structure. Fruit was hand-harvested from our estate vineyards in Carneros, Rutherford, Stags Leap District and Oakville in September and October of 2005.
WINEMAKING: Since 2002 we have expanded our sorting capacity for all grapes to include hand-sorting of both clusters and individual berries prior to light crushing. With this additional level of quality control we are able to remove all stem material along with damaged or substandard fruit, allowing the most expressive characteristics of the vintage to be revealed. The wine underwent an extended maceration period of 20-31 days to develop supple tannins and rich, full texture. Following a 15-month aging period in 45% new chateau-style French oak barrels, the wine was bottled without fining in May 2007.
TASTING NOTES: With sweet scents of baked berries on the nose, the 2005 Crimson Creek Merlot exudes warm cherry and cranberry aromas, woven with vanilla, brown sugar, white pepper and a slight minty nuance. Sweet and full-bodied on the palate, the soft, fleshy fruit flavor comes to the forefront, delivering with it the firm, structured tannins that give way to an impressive finish of toast and white pepper. This wine may be enjoyed now or cellared for up to eight years.
The vintage produced 7,255 (750ml) cases. 1.5L formats are also available.