With another year of experience making Pinot Noir from Russian River Valley we have produced a wine showing a clarity of its vineyard site with distinct, age-worthy flavors.
This Pommard vineyard is south facing. The clay and gravel base is covered with Gold Ridge Sandy Loam, a soil that was formed by the decomposition of an ancient sandstone seabed.
Formed from weakly consolidated sandstone with layers of ancient volcanic ash, all once ocean floor, finally exposed and weathered, Gold Ridge soil is not particularly fertile and does not hold water well. This creates an environment that forces the vines to struggle and growing under this stress they produce the best fruit possible.
Passion has a light color and an inviting “rose petal” nose which may lead you to think this is just another “strawberry and cream” Pinot.
Think again! . . . this is a wow of a Russian River Valley Pinot but showing poise and grace instead of raw power.
On first taste it presents the illusion of a little sweetness but it soon surrounds your entire palate with its subtle brown spice and lush accents of red raspberry, cola, pine cone and dried thyme scents.
Finally here is a supple, new world Pinot that will handle gentle spicing so try a salad of golden beets with hazelnuts, grilled ricotta, frise lettuce, blueberries and orange or perhaps a fregola sarda (Sardinian pasta) with roasted peppers, olives and sweet onions.
Passion is still sufficiently versatile to work with earthy-flavored foods as well. Think about chicken thighs stewed in a tomato sauce atop a mound of creamy mashed potato with truffle salt or how about the rich, savory flavors of a cassoulet made with duck confit or even Peking duck with all the trimmings. Yum!
Color | Red |
---|---|
Vintage | 2013 |
Style | Red Burgundy |
Appellation | Russian River Valley |
Varietal | Pinot Noir |
Date Bottled | 31st Dec 1969 |
Alcohol | 14.50% |
Bottle Size | 3000ml |