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Fort Ross - Redesign

2014 Top of Land

2014 Top of Land
Pinot Noir

Wine Specs
Vintage
2014
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast
Vineyard Designation
Fort Ross Vineyard
Harvest Date
September 2-23, 2014
Aging
10 months in 100% French oak; 35% new
Bottling Date
August, 2015 - Unfined & Unfiltered
Alcohol %
13.9
Robert Parker
93
Add To Cart
$80.00
/ 750ml
SKU: FOPNTL14

From our mountain vineyard that overlooks the Sonoma Coast in the Fort Ross-Seaview American Viticultural Area, Fort Ross Vineyard & Winery produces limited quantities of single vineyard, Estate grown, cool-climate Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinotage. With spectacular views of the Pacific Ocean less than one mile away, the vineyard is divided into 32 separate blocks, one-half to two acres in size, that range in elevation from 1700 down to 1200 feet above sea level. Owners, Lester and Linda Schwartz with their small crew began preparing the 52 acre vineyard in 1994. It took them 4 years of preparation before they could begin planting. The year 2000 marked the first vintage from the Fort Ross Vineyard.

93 Points - The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
The flagship Pinots at Fort Ross are clearly worth the trade-up. Pale to medium ruby-purple colored, the 2014 Pinot Noir Top of Land offers glimpses of fragrant earth and underbrush over a core of red currants red cherries, plus a waft of balsamic. Medium-bodied and solidly framed with grainy and refreshing acidity, this is a structured, more earthy/mineral style, which doesn’t scrimp on the length. Drink 2017 - 2023.

Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Deep garnet in color, the Top of Land Pinot Noir has remarkable concentration and vibrancy. This wine is sourced from some of the most low-yielding and richest Pinot Noir blocks in the vineyard. A beautiful bouquet of wild strawberry, boysenberry, lavender and rose petals leap from the glass. On the palate, Top of Land is broad and expansive with layers of firm tannins that carry out into a complex finish.
Vineyard Notes
2014 was the third year of bountiful harvests that again produced stellar wine of vibrancy and concentration. Protected from the drought by the late winter rains that quickly filled our pond, we could enjoy one of the few luxuries of being off the grid. As we train our grapes to grow on cordons, with evenly positioned buds that produce evenly placed shoots, we drop clusters that are not perfectly positioned. We worked through the vineyard three times to ensure that the bunches had optimal air circulation and sun exposure. The depth of flavor in the wines from this vintage reflect our meticulous handwork. August 17 marked the beginning of the harvest with picking a select block of Pinot Noir Dijon 777 for our Sparkling Wine. The remaining Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinotage ripened quickly and evenly and was harvested through September.
Winemaker Notes
The grapes for this Pinot Noir were handpicked during the cool hours of the night in 2 gallon trays. After hand sorting, the fruit was cold soaked for several days and fermented in a combination of 5 and 10 ton tanks. The caps were punched down 1 or 2 times per day, depending on the stage of the fermentation. The wines were then barreled in a combination of 35% new and 65% neutral French oak. Throughout the 11 months of barrel aging, the clones and different vineyard blocks were kept separate to maintain their distinct flavor profiles and structural components as blending elements.

2014 Top of Land
Pinot Noir

Wine Specs
Vintage
2014
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Fort Ross-Seaview, Sonoma Coast
Vineyard Designation
Fort Ross Vineyard
Harvest Date
September 2-23, 2014
Aging
10 months in 100% French oak; 35% new
Bottling Date
August, 2015 - Unfined & Unfiltered
Alcohol %
13.9
Robert Parker
93
Add To Cart
$80.00
/ 750ml
SKU: FOPNTL14