Longboard Vineyards Russian River Pinot Noir 2017

Longboard Vineyards Russian River Pinot Noir 2017 Few areas in the world are blessed with just the right balance of warm days and cool nights that are needed to produce great Pinot Noir. The Russian River Valley appellation is one of those areas - and we take full advantage of it. To begin with, we choose to work with growers who know this varietal and we collaborate with them to grow and pick the fruit when flavors are well developed but before any overly pruney or raisiny characters show up. We then ensure grapes are hand-picked at night or at first light and delivered cool to the winery where they are de-stemmed (not crushed) and allowed to cold soak for three days before fermentation is allowed to start. Lots are either inoculated or allowed to ferment on their own, a decision we make once we assess the quality of the incoming fruit. Once the alcoholic fermentation is complete, wines are drawn into French oak barrels ( about 3 0% new) where they complete the malolactic fermentatio