HOOK & LADDER RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY ESTATE SIMEONE VINEYARD PINOT NOIR 2017
THE VINEYARDS: Cecil De Loach planted these delicate Pinot Noir vineyards in 1973 in the Russian River Valley. Located on the plains and gently rolling hills off Olivet road in western Santa Rosa, this area provides an excellent medium for the coastal fog that blankets our fruit in the mornings and evenings. The cooling moisture facilitates a longer growing season in which Pinot Noir thrives.
THE GROWING SEASON: 2017 was another fantastic growing year in the Russian River Valley. Yields were larger than that of 2016 while a slightly cooler August allowed the clusters to mature more slowly and evenly than previous vintages, providing great flavor and color development.
THE WINEMAKING: We use old-world techniques, whole berries, and 10 % whole clusters to make our Pinot Noir in small batches that we "punch down" up to three times a day. After native yeast fermentation, the wine is aged in French oak barrels for up to 8 months to achieve optimum balance and complexity.
THE WINE: This Simeone Vineyard Pinot displays floral and rich cherry-vanilla aromas with light sandalwood. Densely layered with flavors of currants, rhubarb, and fresh blackberry, there are subtle hints of baking spices and dry tobacco finishing with lush black cherry maple.
HARVESTED: September 8th, 2017
ALCOHOL: 14.2%
TA: .60
pH: 3.62
CASES PRODUCED: 88
AGING: 8 months in 100% French Oak, 50% New Oak
ESTATE BOTTLED: July 11, 2018
WINEMAKER: Jason De Loach
Hook & Ladder Winery continues the legacy of one of Russian River Valley’s most influential wine families. Founded in 2003 by pioneering growers and vintners Cecil and Christine De Loach, and helmed today by their grandson, winemaker Jason De Loach, Hook & Ladder showcases the diversity of the appellation the family helped to define, in a portfolio of limited-production bottling’s from their Russian River Valley estate vineyards
