2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Gris
Pinot Gris produces a white wine with a varied hue, extending from a pale green to straw to a rose color. The wine style ranges from crisp, light and dry, such as those produced in northern Italy (where Pinot Gris is called Pinot Grigio), to richly, textured, aromatic wines from France's Alsace region (where Pinot Gris is called Tokay d'Alsace).
At Inman Family Wines we craft a stylish and distinctly individualistic Pinot Gris that represents the unique growing conditions of the Russian River Valley. Our cool region and well-drained soils ripen the grapes slowly, allowing fully mature flavors to develop while preserving a crisp, elegance.
Its delicate aromas, attractive flavors, opulent texture and balanced acidity make Pinot Gris an ideal food wine. The wine pairs nicely with vegetable dishes, appetizers and simply prepared fish such as salmon and halibut and shellfish, particularly crab and scallops. Pinot Gris' good acidity and slightly spicy characteristics complement the herbs and spices found in Thai and Indian cuisine.
Winemaker's Notes:
| | Inman Family 2006 Russian River Valley Pinot Gris | | Appellation: | Russian River Valley | | Fruit Sources: | Olivet Grange Vineyard - Clone 146
Saralees Vineyard - Clone 152 | | Harvest Data: | The 2006 growing season was one of the wettest in recent memory. It was also quite cool, and like 2005 was an excellent vintage for the more elegant, food friendly style that we admire.
Once again the fruit for this wine was sourced from Saralee’s Vineyard and Olivet Grange Vineyard. We harvested both vineyards by hand early on September 18th. BRIX was 22.8 for the fruit from Saralee’s and 20.0 from Olivet Grange. The two lots were pressed together. Once pressed, the juice was cold-settled overnight and the BRIX of the juice was 21.9.
21.4 Brix
0.689 T.A.
3.47 pH
| | Winemaking: | In terms of the winemaking, I followed almost identical protocols to those I used in 2004 and 2005. An extra clean pick in the field, followed by whole cluster pressing. The wine was barrel fermented in 79-gallon stainless steel barrels using an Alsatian yeast strain 58W3 and GoFerm was added to aid the yeast during rehydration to supply nutrients, vitamins and minerals to ensure healthly yeast and a successful fermentation. Maximum temperature during fermentation was recorded at 70 degrees F. At the end of primary fermentation, 4 barrels (20%) were inoculated with Malolactic bacteria (Enoferm Alpha). The wine rested on its lees and had weekly batonage until the New Year, when it was racked clean to tank for cold stabilization. It was filtered prior to bottling with screwcap closures on January 29, 2007. 480 cases were produced. The wine was not fined and is suitable for vegans. | | Wine Facts: | 13.2% alcohol
0.68 T.A.
3.5 pH
480 Cases | Tasting Notes:
| | Color: | Pale Straw | | Aroma: | Floral, stone fruit | | Flavor: | The flavor profile of this wine falls somewhere between the lean and minerally 2004 vintage and the more fleshy and opulent 2005. The wine is well balanced, clean and refreshing. Typical of Pinot Gris, it is showing stone fruit and a hint of citrus on the palete and finishes with a flinty mineral character. The mouthfeel is generous for a Pinot Gris and the finish is long. |
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