Winemaker Joe Freeman – early thoughts on Pinots
- By admin
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- 07 Oct, 2010
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Ancient Oak Cellars now has two Pinot Noirs in tank! It seemed like a long wait for these grapes to ripen, but the rewards of patience are the ripe flavors and mature tannins we are seeing in the fermenters. As if on cue, Fall weather arrived today, with dark clouds, cold temperatures, and light sprinkles. […]
Just under 7 tons of Siebert Ranch Pinot Noir were hand picked on Saturday, October 2, weeks later than this block usually ripens. After removing the grapes from the stems, the “must” was transferred to the open top fermenters for a cold soak period, where we attempt to extract as much color and flavor as possible, prior to the start of fermentation. These grapes will have a few more days of cold soak before we inoculate with yeast and begin the conversion from juice to wine. It looks like the 2010 Siebert Ranch Pinot Noir will be a wonderfully intense wine with very ripe flavors of black cherry and blueberry.
I’ll keep you posted on the progress of our young wines!
-Joe Freeman
Ancient Oak Cellars, and Jon McDaniel with Second City Soil, gathered 60+ of the top sommeliers from around the country to taste four wines that Ancient Oak had sent to each -- and to enter into a discussion of the wines, farming and winemaking philosophies, and a wide-range of other related topics. We had a blast!
Re-live your experience, or take it in for the first time. Then be in touch to continue the discussions. Cheers!
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