Balletto Vineyards And Winery/Sonoma Pinot Noirs/Hotter Than July/

I always look forward to meeting with John Balletto and his great wine maker Anthony Beckman.This is a very interesting feature with two incredible Pinot Noirs.Let's check out the tasting notes on these beautiful wines. 2013 Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley Estate is a wine that now can be found nationally.A blend of many different sites this wine is a statement from this great winery. A lovely wine. A skinny-dip dive through just right water. Forest-floor earthliness, dark, savory spice and a slight touch of bright red fruit combine with a silky palate that lingers over its poised, age-worthy structure. Then, theres the crisp acidity that keeps the wine lively and intertwines gracefully with the structure. So serious, yet balanced and approachable. This is the Balletto pinot style. The wine has struck a fine balance and will improve during the next three to five years (or more) in bottle. Our Russian River Valley Pinot Noir is grown on seven different estate pinot vineyards. The sites range from quiet rolling hills to steep and cold hillside plantings. This diverse combination adds distinct elements from each site and creates a complete and complex wine with structure and grace. Balletto Vineyards makes all of its wine from sustainably-farmed estate vineyards located throughout the cool southern third of the Russian River Valley. It is one of the few Russian River wineries to be 100 percent estate grown and estate bottled, and specializes in vineyard-designated Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, which are consistently elegant, balanced and delicious. Pinot Noir Winemaking Philosophy: Pinot Noir is one of the most expressive grape varietals grown. So we grow and harvest our grapes to showcase the uniqueness of our estate vineyards, maintain brisk natural acidity and have lower alcohol levels. We ferment exclusively with indigenous yeast in small six-ton open tops, and age our finished wine in French oak barrels with new oak used sparingly to enhance the wine, not dominate it. The result is serious Pinot Noir with depth, structure and finesse. Wines to savor. 2012 Winery Block Pinot Noir, RRV Estate is a great story. Tasting Notes: Bright. Focused. Distinct. The 2012 Winery Block single vineyard Pinot Noir expresses an uncommon depth, balance and texture. Its light, fresh and elegant yet maintains viscosity, acidity and fine tannins to finish with layered flavors and structure. Dried rose petal, rhubarb and cherry compote complement savory baking spices and distinct earthy aromas. The Winery Block is always our most vibrant Pinot bottled and its natural acidity adds to a lingering finish that concentrates the flavors and begs for the next sip. Its the complete Pinot Noir package and will develop in bottle during the next five years. Vineyard: The Winery Block is comprised of several blocks of Pinot Noir vineyards that surround the winery on Occidental Road east of Sebastopol. Soils: The Pinot selected for this bottling is grown predominantly on Wright Sandy Loam. Winemaking Notes: The Winery Block Pinot Noir is the most fun of all the wines to blend. There are four distinct Pinot clones planted to the block and each one gives the final wine a portion of its character. In 2012, the Swan clone dominated the total blend, lending distinct rose petal and violet aromas. The 114 contributed a nice texture throughout, and the Mt. Eden clone contributed the bright fruit for the blend. This Winery Block should have a long bottle life and will improve during the next five years (or more). It's time to open these wines and pour a toast to the 4th of July and a summer's night dream!Cheers! Click here and join the celebration ,Cheers.