2018 PINOT NOIR
California
VINEYARDS
VINEYARDS: Monterey, Paso Robles, Russian River
WINEMAKERS COMMENTS: We use several different clones, and being believers in minimal manipulation regarding the environment, have eliminated fertilizers and soil amendments. We do not add any acid in the cellar. Deep garnet in color, the nose of this wine is beautifully perfumed, suggesting violets, star anise, raspberry coulis, and earthy mineral notes. The palate exhibits juicy black cherry and berry flavors. The finish is long and elegant, offering hints of exotic spice. Wadenswill is a clone which lends flavors of mouthwatering sour cherry and crushed strawberries, while Pommard 4 provides earthiness. The wine has soft tannins from the cool climate selection and finishes with balanced acidity, light bodied tannins and a soft, silky finish. We blend grapes from several appellations. Complexity is achieved with blending AVA’s, not varietals.
Alc: 13% TA: 6.0 g/L pH: 3.62
WINEMAKING DETAILS: Each vineyard is picked in the evening, at optimal ripeness, and the fruit is delivered to the winery cold. We process immediately, crushing the grapes directly into the fermenters where we do a 48 hour cold soak under the presence of CO2 to eliminate oxygen pickup. After inoculation, we pump over 3 times per day until 10 brix when we then reduce pump overs to 2 times per day. After primary fermentation is complete, we finish malo-lactic in neutral French oak barrels for complexity. We age this wine in Francois Frere neutral barrels for 12 months.
ABOUT LAELY HERON & HERON WINES
An unconventional childhood – living in mining towns on four continents – fostered Laely’s love of travel, adventure and a desire to explore and to experience the cultures, foods and wines of the world. Wanderlust and curiosity have led her on many paths including studying winemaking in Bordeaux, opening a restaurant and importing wine in Denmark, and pursuing Master of Wine studies.
With this love of wine and an entrepreneurial spirit, she started Heron Wines in 1994 with little more than a credit card, a "business plan" sketched out on a napkin, and an idea to make great and affordable wine. When she started Heron Wines, it was unusual for an American woman to be making her own wine in France. Now Heron Wines is making wine in three countries. From the beginning, the goal has been simple: for each wine, find the best vineyards and the best regions wherever in the world they may be.
Even today, Laely continues her global exploration to make distinctive and delicious wines from the best places on earth.
