2006
Mitsuko's Vineyard Pinot Noir
Clos Pegase
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Pinot Noir (Red)
Los Carneros
$35.00/bottle
The 2006 season began with flooding over the New Years period, which made national news, but left dormant vines unaffected. Plentiful rain in the spring followed, leading to a slightly delayed budbreak, and the cool weather persisted right into early May, slowing the onset of flowering. A burst of warmth in the latter half of May and then into June was perfect for fruit-set and produced great uniformity of berry development. A moderate and dry summer was punctuated by a 10-day heat spike in late July, but as fall progressed, mild conditions prevailed. The harvest was approximately two weeks later than ‘average’ and the consistency of weather during flowering and harvest has given Pinot Noir of great purity and depth. Mitsuko’s vineyard, located south of Highway 121 in the cooler part of Napa Carneros has proved to have an abundance of ideal sites for the Burgundian varieties Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Purchased as bare land in 1989, we have continued to refine our plantings to maximize the potential of the site. As part of this ongoing development, in 1994 we began to experiment with a diverse range of clones of Pinot Noir, giving complexity and finesse to our blend. The most important clones come from the University of Dijon collection – 777, 114, 828, 115 and 667 all contribute diverse notes to the Symphony of flavors and textures in the wine. In addition is the Pommard clone, selected for their consistent ability to make great Pinot Noir in California for decades. The nose has intense black and red cherry aromas, with cranberry, blackberry and plum notes. On the palate, the influence of smoky and charry oak combines with a hint of rhubarb and licorice and unfolds as a tight and seamless, powerful yet elegant wine with long finish.