2018 Best Man Pinot Noir
This ruby-hued wine begins with delicate vanilla aromas that lead into bright red cherry tones and hints of chocolate and sea breeze. On the palate, raspberry and black cherry flavors mingle with cedar box and cassis. These are supported by soft tannins and well-structured minerality.
A wine created for all special occasions or simply a fantastic dinner. Enjoy now or lay down for up to 10 years.
Medium ruby and deep purple hue with full aromas of cassis and sweet spice with a hint of fresh earth. The palate is rich, nearly full-bodied, with ripe black fruit, subtle spice and vanilla. Toasted oak, leather, and dark cherry is sustained on the midpalate. The finish is complex with balanced acidity and mouth-filling tannins that balance the generous fruit intensity of this wine nicely.
The 2018 Best Man Pinot is a extended labor of love from the same source as our traditional Pinot Noir. The grapes are from the famous Tondre Grapefield, like our traditional Pinot Noir, but these are hand chosen by the winemaker Russ Jones. We cold soak for a week in Truckee's high altitude chill, slow fermenting with a wild yeast fermentation and let the wine sit with its skins for 2 weeks. This wine is then barrel aged for almost 3 years before bottling.
This is a unique and refined Pinot Noir, and as its process takes much love and care, only a small amount is produced.
| Download Wine Notes |
| Vintage | 2018 |
| Varietal | Pinot Noir |
| Appellation | Santa Lucia Highlands |
| Vineyard | Tondre Grapefield |
| Harvest Date | 09/08/2018 |
| Aging | french oak barrels |
| Alcohol | 15.80% |
| Volume | 750 ml |
| Bottling Date | 10/05/2022 |
| Cases Produced | 80 |
| Country of Origin | UNITED STATES |
| State of Origin | California |
| Artificially Carbonated | No |
| Sparkling Wine | No |
In 1997, Tondré Grapefield was planted on 6 ½ acres. It has grown to 104 acres and rests in the heart of the Santa Lucia Highland Appellation, Monterey County.
Joe Alarid currently farms a wide range of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay clones to ensure that there is a medley of fruit and sufficient Tondré pedigree character to suit vintner stylistic preferences. He also grows a very limited amount of Syrah and Riesling. Included in the broad spectrum of Pinot Noir plantings are clones 115, Pommard 4, 777, 943, 667, 828 and Swan. Chardonnay clones include 76, 96, 543 and New York.
Vignerons regard the Santa Lucia Highlands Appellation as one of the crown jewels of California agriculture for Pinot and Chardonnay grapes. The importance and interdependence of combining grower and vintner is omnipresent for wine quality assurance and protection of a vineyard designation vintage by vintage. Joe carefully chooses vignerons to ensure that wines made from Tondré Grapefield fruit are among the premier wines of the Santa Lucia Highland appellation.
This distinguished appellation has protruding, southeast-facing slopes, strong maritime influences from Monterey Bay and ancient glacial soils consisting of decomposed granite, gravel and sandy loam. The unique location of Tondré Grapefield allows the grapes to have an extended “hang time”, meaning more sunlight on the vine, more grape ripening and sufficient cool-down in the evening to firm up the fruit’s natural acidity. Tondré Grapefield vines have deep soil penetration and mineral extraction giving the grapes distinctively intense flavor.
tondrewines.com
Russ Jones was born in Yosemite National Park, where he spent most of his childhood, until his family moved to Squaw Valley. Russ learned how to ski in Yosemite, but he learned how to race in Squaw. He spent his high school career racing and loving the snow. He and his wife met on the high school race team, where Russ dominated the field. He graduated from UC Davis with a degree in Enology and Viticulture (winemaking and grape growing). He and his wife traveled through Oregon, Washington and Paso Robles after graduation, where he worked at several wineries and perfected the Pinot Noir process. They then moved back to Truckee to start a family, and that is when he decided to make his own wine, using the natural ideal temperatures and humidity of Tahoe to make the wine distinctively unique. His artistic and analytical mind ensures that the science and art in winemaking is used to its potential. With this perfect blending of art and science, Truckee River Winery's wines have exceptional flavors and aromas.
