2005 Pinot Noir - Fiddlestix Vineyard

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Overview
Our 2005 Pinot Noir from Fiddlestix Vineyard represents a careful selection of five barrels that showcase the distinctive quality and personality of this acclaimed site in Santa Barbara County's Santa Rita Hills. The barrels were chosen from a larger lot by Winemakers Chuck Ortman and Matt Ortman, who wanted to craft an expressive wine that vividly captured the vineyard's signature black fruit flavors and enticing earthy nuances. The remaining barrels were incorporated into our Santa Rita Hills bottling of Pinot Noir.

Vineyard
Fiddlestix Vineyard resides in the heart of the Santa Rita Hills at mile marker 7.28 along Santa Rosa Road. Here, the rare west-to-east orientation of the hills combines with coastal proximity to forge an unparalleled Pinot Noir climate, with reliable morning fog and consistent Pacific breezes that orchestrate optimal ripening. Under the direction of winegrower Kathy Joseph, Fiddlestix Vineyard is guided by cutting-edge viticulture, with close vine spacing, premium clonal selections and hands-on attention to detail. The result is a pure and terroir-driven expression of the Pinot Noir grape, with intense black fruit flavors, firm acidity and exquisite structure.

Winemaking
The 2005 growing season was preceded by heavy winter rains, which charged the groundwater and helped set a healthy crop. Clusters were thinned at veraison to ensure optimal yields. Fall arrived amid calm and steady weather with no rush to harvest the grapes, ensuring wonderful balance and complexity. The three included blocks were hand harvested on three separate days, with the last block picked on September 22. The must was cold soaked for five days, followed by fermentation in small 1.5-ton bins. The cap was punched down manually three times daily during fermentation for enhanced color and extraction. After gentle pressing, the wine was returned to tank for two days of settling, then racked to French oak barrels for aging. Medium-toast Allier and Tronçais barrels were selected for their harmonious contribution to the Ortman style of Pinot Noir.

Tasting Notes
Our 2005 Pinot Noir from Fiddlestix Vineyard offers a complex bouquet of crushed cherries, cinnamon and fragrant forest. Round, luscious flavors of strawberry, black cherry and blackberry reveal toasty nuances of clove spice and mocha. The texture is firm yet silky, finishing with fine youthful tannins that will soften with aeration and aging. This deeply flavored Pinot Noir will complement a variety of medium-weight fare, including rack of lamb, rosemary-stuffed tenderloin filet, parmesan-crusted chicken breast, and fresh grilled salmon.

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