94 Points - Wine Enthusiast
2006 Goldeneye Estate Grown Gowan Creek Vineyard Pinot Noir
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Two miles north of the Confluence Vineyard in the heart of the Anderson Valley, our Gowan Creek Vineyard sees appreciably more coastal fog. The unique terroir of this site brings together elements from both the valley’s warmer regions and its cooler, northern “deep end”. Offering an ideal Southwestern exposure and an array of unique vineyard blocks, Gowan Creek is planted to eight different clones of Pinot Noir, each carefully tailored to a specific site and soil type. The powerful and expressive wine produced from these vines displays beautiful inky depth and robust, untamed fruit flavors.
Wine Enthusiast
94
Connoisseurs' Guide
92
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Content: 100% Pinot Noir; Cooperage: 77% New, 23% Second Vintage French oak; Medium toast: Allier, Vosges and Tronçais Forests
Winemaker Notes
Gowan Creek is the home to our new winery and offers a perfect mid-valley winegrowing location that combines warmer Anderson Valley elements with coastal fog and cooling influences from the northern end of the valley. The nose displays the wild blueberry and blackberry layers that have come to define Gowan Creek, supported by notes of loganberry, char, black pepper and dried meats. On the palate, the attack is immense, the tannins long and the acidity persistent, all combining to create a wine with sumptuous, dark-fruit-driven complexity.
Production
In 2006 the weather cooperated—in fact, it was ideal. Temperatures remained mild, allowing us to handpick each block based on ripeness and flavors, and extending the harvest over seven weeks, commencing at Confluence Vineyard on September 7 and culminating with The Narrows Vineyard on October 28. Winemaker Zach Rasmuson describes the fruit quality from the 2006 vintage as impressive: “the wines are full, well-extracted, and tasty.”
Other Notes
Released: March 2009
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2006
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Anderson Valley
Vineyard Designation
Gowan Creek Vineyard
Harvest Date
September 10 – October 28, 2006
Sugar
27.0° Brix
Acid
0.54 g/100 ml titratable acidity
pH
3.59
Aging
16 Months in Barrel
Bottling Date
March 2008
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Enthusiast
94
Connoisseurs' Guide
92
