Chronicle Wine Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
 

 2009 Anderson Valley Pinot Noir
 
 
 
VINEYARD SOURCES: Savoy – Clones 777, Pommard, Martini 15, Toulouse – Clone 11
 
WINEMAKING     James MacPhail
 
FERMENTATION  100% native, 5-day cold soak in small open top fermenter, punched down 2-3 times per day
 

BARREL AGING   Only free run juice went direct to barrel; aged 10 months in French Oak (35% new) from François Frères, Damy, Remond and Cadus; aged on malolactic lees with minimal racking prior to bottling

 
BOTTLED   161 cases on September 8, 2010
 
ALCOHOL   13.9
 
At Chronicle, my mantra is “elegance and finesse over brawn”.  I don't subscribe to the “bigger is better” school of winemaking, but rather believe in picking grapes when they still have sufficient natural acidity and brightness to pair well with all kinds of foods. I do not focus on any one parameter such as brix, Ph and malic acid provided all are in balance. The goal is to craft wines from very special pieces of land in the north coast, letting the fruit express the vineyards' unique characteristics.

 

The 2009 Anderson Valley is a wonderful example of this pursuit. It is the first year I have released an Anderson Valley blend, which gave me the platform to work with the two iconic  vineyards that comprise this wine: Savoy and Toulouse. The lots were combined into an appellation blend which showcases the hallmark characteristics of the Anderson Valley - vivid fruit and floral notes featuring good natural acidity, with sweet tannins and a supple mid-palate. 

 

 

As a vintage, 2009 was an unqualified success. It was a year where we achieved physiological ripeness in Anderson Valley at lower brix and lower potential alcohols.  This was the result of a moderate spring and summer, punctuated by a few stretches near harvest when temperatures hovered in the 90's.