92 Points - Wine Spectator
2012 Goldeneye Anderson Valley Pinot Noir Confluence Vineyard
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Our Confluence Vineyard is located in the heart of the Anderson Valley, adjacent to the headwaters of the Navarro River. The vineyard offers a unique range of soils, from benchland to gravel strata, as well as varying exposures including hillside slopes and protected pockets. This natural diversity allows us to choose clones ideally suited to each specific vineyard block, ultimately yielding grapes possessing a variety of expressive flavors and characteristics. The opulent Pinot Noir produced from this valley floor vineyard displays voluptuous red fruit components and plush, supple tannins.
Wine Spectator
92
Wine Enthusiast
92
Wine Review Online
92
Wine Profile
Production Notes
Varietal Content: 100% Pinot Noir; Cooperage: 50% New, 50% Second French oak; Medium toast: Allier, Vosges and Tronçais Forests
Winemaker Notes
This spectacular wine is the proverbial velvet fist in an iron glove, with a hearty fruit core of Santa Rosa plum, red currant and raspberry, all framed by ripe, yet substantial, tannins and toasty French oak-inspired notes of vanilla. The complexity builds throughout the mid-palate and finish, where hints of supple leather mingle with a mélange of exotic spices, including cardamom, cinnamon and anise.
Production
After a cold, dry winter, we did extensive pruning to delay budbreak until the optimal time. Early spring rains and warm weather produced ideal conditions from bloom through fruit set. Though we set a larger-than-normal crop, the clusters were dense and compact with abundant small berries, which is perfect for high-quality wine. Warm summer days, cool nights and clockwork fog allowed for slow, even ripening and the retention of acidity. We harvested block-by-block over an almost languid two-month period. Like the Anderson Valley itself, the resulting wines are pure and complex, balancing a natural richness with a rustic elegance.
Other Notes
Released: March 2015
Wine Specs
Wine Specs
Vintage
2012
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Anderson Valley
Vineyard Designation
Confluence Vineyard
Harvest Date
September 14 – October 8, 2012
Sugar
25.0° Brix
Acid
0.47g/100 ml titratable acidity
pH
3.93
Aging
16 Months in Barrel
Bottling Date
February 2014
Alcohol %
14.5
Wine Spectator
92
Wine Enthusiast
92
Wine Review Online
92