Hook & Ladder Estate Pinot Noir 2017

HOOK & LADDER RUSSIAN RIVER VALLEY PINOT NOIR 2017 THE VINEYARDS: Cecil De Loach planted these delicate Pinot Noir vineyards in 1973 in the Russian River Valley. Located on the plains and gently rolling hills off Olivet road in western Santa Rosa, this area provides an excellent medium for the coastal fog that blankets our fruit in the mornings and evenings. The cooling moisture facilitates a longer growing season in which Pinot Noir thrives. THE GROWING SEASON: Coming off one of the wettest winters on record, the 2017 growing season soon normalized with bud break occurring later than that of the drought years. Throughout summer we saw numerous heat waves that sped the maturation of the vines while a cooler August allowed this pinot noir to ripen more slowly and evenly leading up to the pick. THE WINEMAKING: We use old-world techniques, whole berries, and whole clusters to make our Pinot Noir in small batches that we "punch down" up to three times a day. After native yeast fermenta