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Wine Information
2013 Vintage
This young vineyard in the Laguna Ridge of Sonoma County's Russian River Valley has soils that remind one of a moonscape. It has some of the whitest soil in the region; it is very sandy Goldridge soil. The Dijon clone 667, along with the Mount Eden, Swan, and Martini clones - also known as "heritage" or "suitcase” clones planted here (so named because sometimes the plant material was imported from France in vintners' suitcases) - thrive in this soil.
The result is a very perfumed and elegant Pinot Noir. The vineyard is farmed by Jim Pratt. His attention to detail in the farming is re ected in the exceptional quality of the fruit. Inman Family receives 100% of the Pinot Noir from this vineyard. The property is at the corner of Vine Hill Road and Vine Hill School Road, near a number of very acclaimed vineyards.
Appellation: Russian River Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Fruit Source: Pratt Vine Hill Vineyard
Tasting Notes
Color: Light ruby
Aroma: Crushed violets, lavender, strawberry, blueberry, and a hint of toasty oak Flavor: Strawberry, blueberry, cherry, red delicious apple peel and mineral. The texture is smooth and silky. The tannins are moderate, and the fruit, acid, and oak are in lovely balance.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes were harvested on September 6th. After destemming, the fruit cold soaked for 4 days, and a spontaneous, natural fermentation was allowed to begin. When dry, a basket press was used. The wine settled overnight and then was barreled down in a mix of French oak barrels. A natural malolactic fermentation occurred. The wine rested on the ne lees, receiving regular bâtonnage until March 2015 when it was racked in preparation for bottling under Stelvin closure.
Case Production: 219
Vintage 2013
Napa Valley Harvest 2013 Report
A seamless year of steady weather and optimal ripening brings in above average yields and excellent quality fine wine grapes
10/22/2013 - St. Helena, CA: The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) reports that the region’s winemakers expect to be done with the 2013 harvest within the next week. “Early, even and excellent” are three words being used to describe this year’s growing season and the Napa Valley wine grapes that have come from it, reflecting the consistent quality for which this world famous wine region is known.
A warm, dry spring brought early bud break, helped with canopy vigor and berry size and created ideal conditions for flowering and fruit set under sunny skies. With the exception of one heat spike in late June/early July, temperatures were consistently in the zone for optimal vine activity, resulting in notably healthy vines as fruit went through veraison and started ripening.
The August 1 start of harvest was the earliest in recent history. White wine grapes came in at a furious pace throughout that month, moving on to lighter reds by early September. Two brief mid-September rains had virtually no impact on the grapes. The vast majority of the more delicate skinned grapes had already been harvested and sunny weather with breezes followed the rains, allowing for the mostly Cabernet Sauvignon that remained to dry out almost immediately. The cooler, sunny weather throughout October allowed the final grapes still on the vine to linger longer, developing more phenolic and flavor maturities with sugar levels remaining steady.
As this harvest comes to a close, it is about two weeks earlier than other Napa Valley harvests in the last decade. Yields on the whole have been above average.
“In a nutshell, this vintage has given us the extraordinary gift of enabling us to pick exactly what we wanted, when we wanted, at perfect ripeness and ideal hang time,” noted Paul Colantuoni, winemaker at Rocca Family Vineyards.
Winemakers from around the valley agree the 2013 vintage holds exceptional promise and potential and exceeded expectations following on the heels of 2012 – another year that has been described as “nearly perfect.”
