WINEMAKER’S NOTE

This lush and layered Pinot Noir is overflowing with intense aromas of black cherry, vanilla and toasty oak. Smooth with supple tannins, robust flavors of fresh raspberry jam and strawberry are complemented by silky underpinnings of rich mocha and caramel. Jammy and voluminous, rich juicy ripe fruit lingers on through the finish. – John Killebrew, Winemaker

VINTAGE

A cool start to the season brought on slow even ripening with enough rain to generate reservoirs establishing a strong root system. A warm Summer followed with few heat spikes promoting even canopy growth and fruit development that maintained bright fruit flavors. After a successful harvest along with lots of hard work, we are left with a wine we are proud of – layered, balanced, and delicious.

WINEMAKING

Throughout the growing season, winemaker John Killebrew visited each vineyard block regularly. The fruit for Z. Alexander Brown was harvested during the cool early morning hours to ensure that the concentrated fruit flavors were captured at the peak of ripeness. Upon arrival at the winery, the grapes were de-stemmed into stainless steel fermenters from 24 to 48-hours cold soak to extract color from the skins and enhance the delicate berry flavors. Following the completion of primary fermentation, the wine was gently pressed and clean racked into a selection of French and American oak barrels and elevage tanks where the wines underwent secondary malolactic fermentation. After several months of aging, the final cuvée was blended featuring a selection of the best lots of the vintage.  – John Killebrew, Winemaker