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Fort Ross - Redesign

2014 Sea Slopes

2014 Sea Slopes
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
9 months in 100% French oak; 20% new
Bottling Date
Late June 2015
Alcohol %
13.5
Wine Enthusiast
94
Robert Parker
90
Add To Cart
$35.00
/ 750ml
SKU: FOPNSEA14

Our Sea Slopes Pinot Noir is harmoniously blended with a delicate hand for earlier release than our
other Fort Ross Vineyard Pinot Noirs. This expressive garnet hued Pinot Noir entices with cranberry and Bing cherry
aromas that are balanced by notes of dried orange peel and baking spices.


94 Points, Editor's Choice - Wine Enthusiast, October 2017
This wine offers astounding quality for the price, a juicy expression of fruit and spice with a depth of firm resolved tannin, lively acidity and layers of black cherry and cola. Approachable and delicious, it hits the mark on every level being light bodied and refreshingly balanced while complex. — V.B.

90 Points - The Wine Advocate, Robert Parker
The 2014 Pinot Noir Sea Slopes gets its name from overlooking the Pacific Ocean at an elevation of 1,200 to 1,700 feet. The wine spent nine months in 10% new French oak prior to being bottled unfined and unfiltered. This wine offers loads of Chinese black tea, pomegranate, floral notes and a hint of raspberry in a medium-bodied, fresh, lively, Côte de Beaune style. Drink it over the next 5-7 years (2016 - 2023).

Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Our Sea Slopes Pinot Noir is harmoniously blended with a delicate hand for earlier release than our other Fort Ross Vineyard Pinot Noirs. This expressive garnet hued Pinot Noir entices with cranberry and Bing cherry aromas that are balanced by notes of dried orange peel and baking spices. Juicy pomegranate, raspberry and red plum integrated with spice and dried flowers slowly evolve on the mid-palate. This elegant, broad structured wine finishes with the gentle tannins that express the coastal terroir expected from a wine named Sea Slopes.
Production 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 17th 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 20% new and 80% neutral French oak. Throughout the 9 months of barrel aging, the clones and different vineyard lots were kept separate to maintain their distinct flavor profiles and structural components as blending elements.

2014 Sea Slopes
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
9 months in 100% French oak; 20% new
Bottling Date
Late June 2015
Alcohol %
13.5
Wine Enthusiast
94
Robert Parker
90
Add To Cart
$35.00
/ 750ml
SKU: FOPNSEA14