Husch Vineyards/Pinot Noir And Zinfandel/

I can't wait to introduce you to Jeff Jindra and these two great wines from Husch Vineyards.I have really enjoyed these wines and this fabled region as I have traveled up and down this beautiful valley.Let's check out the tasting notes.....AND THE MENU!! 2012 Pinot Noir The Anderson Valley is now world-renowned for its Pinot Noir grapes. Yet back in 1971 when Husch planted the first Pinot in the Valley many nay-sayers thought red grapes were a losing proposition for the region. History has since proven that the warm days and cool nights of the region are near perfect for ripening Pinot Noir. The 2012 vintage was just a dream compared to what we experienced in 2010 and 2011. The spring started off cool and progressively warmed on into summer, pushing the grapes to full ripeness by the third week in September. As each block ripened, we hand-picked the fruit and brought it into the winery. The grapes were fermented in small open-top fermenters we call T-bins, with 25% of the fruit left as whole clusters. This Old World technique increases the body and adds a slight spice to the wine. The cap was punched down three times per day by hand and the finished wine was aged 9 months in French oak, with one quarter of the barrels new. The 2012 Pinot Noir exhibits the best of Anderson Valley. Aromas of black cherry, cranberry, blood orange, forest floor, and rose hips waft from the glass. Every swirl, sniff, and sip unveils something new! The palate has a silky and savory nature, leading to a long finish. Fresh acidity and round tannins lend this wine to being a perfect match with food. Enjoy with bacon stuffed pork chops, roasted quail, sautéed vegetables, or a beet salad. 2011 'Knoll' Pinot Noir Husch Vineyards planted the first Pinot Noir vines in the Anderson Valley back in 1971 on a special piece of land that we call “The Knoll.” These old vines thrive in an outcropping of sandstone with shale lenses, possessing good drainage. The Knoll consistently produces high quality Pinot Noir due to these unique soils. Overlooking the Navarro River, the grapes in the Knoll benefit from the cool night air and morning fog. The 2011 vintage was cool the whole way through, which led to a small but intense crop. The hand-picked bunches were carefully sorted, and transferred to small open-top fermenters. Of these, 75% were de-stemmed, while the other 25% remained as whole clusters. During the fermentation we gently punch down the grapes three times a day by hand. The must was then transferred to press, just before finishing fermentation for a gentle squeeze. This wine was aged in French oak (50% new) for 17 months with minimal handling. The 2011 Knoll is a terroir driven wine that speaks to the quality of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir. The wine exhibits elegant aromas and flavors of cherry, pomegranate, sarsaparilla, clove, rose hips, cedar, and vanilla. Leading with elegance, and finishing with richness and depth, the Knoll is a pleasure to the palate. Have no hesitation to drink the wine in its youth, but have confidence it will continue to evolve nicely in bottle for the next 5-7 years. The Knoll is an excellent wine to pair with food, such as slow roasted pork, truffle fries, frisee lardon salad, or pan seared duck breast. Cheers! 2013 'Old Vines' Zinfandel Husch’s Old Vine Zinfandel is grown at the historic Garzini Ranch in the warm Ukiah Valley. These gnarly, head pruned old vines have low yields and intense flavors. Old Vine Zinfandel is one of Mendocino County’s treasures, and we are excited to showcase a part of what makes Mendocino County so special. The 2013 vintage was the real deal, and provided a perfectly warm and dry environment to grow Zinfandel. We worked hard in the vineyard to balance the naturally large crop by cutting off all the shoulders and second crop so we could concentrate on ripening fewer, but more intense grapes. This extra work in the vineyard, in conjunction with ideal weather, yielded grapes of amazing concentration and flavor. With flavors at their pinnacle, the grapes were hand harvested, sorted, fermented in small open-top vats, and aged for nine months in American and French oak. Our 2013 Zinfandel is a Mendocino hallmark. Summer raspberry, blackberry, fig, chocolate, and clove lure your nose to the glass. Refreshing acidity highlights the red and black fruit flavors and synchronizes harmoniously with a rich and lingering finish. In short, the wine is both powerful yet elegant. Consider pairing with smoked pork shoulder, sun dried tomato pasta, or a blue cheese burger. This is a great wine in its youth, but with careful aging should last at least 5-7 years.Click here and YES!it's Pinot time. Click here and join us as we enjoy my favorite grape...Zinfandel.