Valley of the Moon 2010 Carneros Pinot Noir

Red cherry and pomegranate fruit aromas are lifted by violet, vanilla and licorice root. The bright red fruit flavors are enhanced with accents of vanilla/caramel, allspice and a hint of smoke on the long and rich finish.

The grapes for this wine are sourced from the historic Mulas Ranch in the rolling hills of the Sonoma Carneros region. The proximity to San Pablo Bay assures moderate daytime temperatures, providing a slow and gentle ripening period for these delicate grapes. Various Pinot Noir clones are harvested from different blocks in the vineyard to bring blending options and complexity to the final blend. Once the Carneros blend is assembled, we introduce a small percentage of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir for added layers of aromas and flavors. The 2010 vintage also includes a small amount of Syrah from Sonoma Valley and Russian River Valley for added depth and structure. The wines are put to barrel early and aged ten months in French and Eastern European oak.