GROWING CONDITIONS
The 2014 growing season was preceded by healthy winter rains, invigorating the vines, while record heat in late summer accelerated ripening, forcing many to harvest early. Fortunately, our coastal sites benefited from the cool afternoon breezes that moderated temperatures, allowing our grapes to ripen at a gradual pace in the cooler weather that followed. We still harvested earlier than usual, in early to mid-September. Yields were almost normal, but berry size was small with higher skin-to-juice ratio, resulting in good phenolics and pronounced flavors in our wines.
WINEMAKING AND COOPERAGE
The grapes were harvested in the early morning hours and transported immediately to the winery, where they were destemmed and cold soaked for 48 hours, inoculated with a low rate of Burgundian yeast, and punched down three times daily. After fermentation, the wine rested 11 months in a mix of new (1/2) and one-year old French oak barrels from the Allier, Vosges, Troncais and Bertranges forests. Since Angel Hawk is our reserve wine and the ultimate expression of the terroir of our Anderson Valley Estate Vineyard, we select the best barrels from the three vineyard blocks, and then blend them and barrel age them for another 11 months, for a total of 22 months in barrel.
TASTING NOTES
A very special wine for a very special milestone. This is the 10th anniversary release of our beloved Angel Hawk Pinot Noir, the quintessential expression of both vintage and vineyard. Culled from the distinct blocks of our Anderson Valley estate vineyard, Angel Hawk is a small, five-barrel selection of the finest and most age-worthy lots. The 2014 Angel Hawk is an impeccably balanced wine offering a seductive core of luscious fruit wrapped in grainy tannins and refreshed by mouthwatering acidity. Dark plum, cassis and black cherry aromatics are complemented by notes of sweet vanilla, mocha, dried rose and pipe tobacco. The deeply concentrated and vivid palate melds textural resonance with a refined structure that promises many years of fine drinking. Decant upon release for first three years, 2014-17. Can cellar for 12+ years.