Le Sommelier Inc.

Varietal: Pinot Noir 100%

Soil type: Alluvial clay

Alcohol: 14.1%

Maturation: 12 months in 100% new French oak + min of 12 months in bottle. 

Tasting notes / Review: Ruby red color, bright fruit layers of strawberry, cherry, plum. Cedar, toast, smoke, spice, caramel and vanilla are integrated between the fruit layers.  It finishes with an intense fruit quality, while the tannins fold in, to give it a nice Burgundian aftertaste.

“This exceptionally aromatic pinot noir from the Dijon 777 clone has an intensity and concentration few California pinot noir posses. Ripe berry and cherry flavours dominate. The wine has a long aftertaste. Sip it, or pair confidently with breaded scallops of veal, semi-soft cheeses, roast rack of lamb, and roast loin of pork.” 91 pts, Hrayr Berberoglu 

Keith Nichols decided to plant this particular clone of Pinot Noir because of its upfront, ripe fruit.  Clone 777 is an aromatic clone of Pinot Noir that shows bright cherry and delicious ripe berry fruit. This single vineyard Pinot Noir was sourced from the Edna Ranch vineyard and was produced using traditional Burgundian techniques, fermented in small open top fermenters to facilitate maximum flavour and colour extraction.  The cap was punched down several times a day over a period of 10 days and was aged for 12 months in 50% new French oak from the Allier, Never and Tronçais forests.  Following maturation, the wine was bottled-aged for an additional 5 years before its release.