Wow Wow
August 26, 2009
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PAY
ATTENTION NOW!
INTRODUCING!
07 Romililly
Pinot Noir - Russian River Valley, Sonoma
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Dear
Wine Friend,
Romililly Pinot Noir is the
creation of brothers Aaron and Jesse Inman. Romililly
(roe'-mi-lilly) is a string of syllables representing
the middle names of family siblings (remember
Audelssa?). I'll leave the details, unless you
ask. Aaron is a young, savvy assistant
winemaker for his Uncle Joe Briggs at the August Briggs
winery in Napa Valley. If
you have enjoyed August Briggs' wines,
especially the Russian River Valley Pinot Noir,
then you should be confident in Aaron and his brother's
ability to handle the grape! And if you
are a pinotfile, you already know the 2007 vintage for
Pinot Noir in Calfornia has been
declared "Best Ever" by Wine Spectator. (Sept
09)
The 2007
Romililly Pinot Noir is sourced from the
Morrelli Lane Vineyard, situated along the top of a
ridge just north of the town
of Occidental on the far western reaches
of the Russian River Valley appellation in
Sonoma. This sandy loam vineyard is over a hundred
years old, but most of it was replanted in 1995 when the
property came under the management of Dutton Ranch,
arguably the most respected premium grape growers
in the region (think Kistler!). Did I
mention Wine Spectator ranked Sonoma as
the most successful Pinot Noir growing region in
2007 with 98 points! (Sept 09)
Morelli Lane Vineyard - Russian
River Valley, Sonoma
Two
factors in California's evolving success in Pinot
Noir production are site specificity, and the ever
improving clonal selections available to the
winemaker. For the 07 Pinot Noir, the
Inmans selected 3 Pinot Noir
clones;
Pommard 5, Beringer, Dijon 113. Not
only is each clone fully adaptable to
the cooler, more severe growing conditions of the
vineyard, but the clones
provide important individual attributes
that can compliment each other
to produce a more successful wine.
Thus, each clone is fermented separately in open
top vats. Then the 3 wines are aged in 33% new
French oak barrels for 10 months (Demptos-Allier, DJ,
Louis Latour). Finally, the wines are blended
and "tweaked" to showcase the best attributes
of each clone. For instance, the Pommard
provides intensity. The Beringer serves to
lengthen the wine's finish, while the Dijon
adds texture, and smoothness to the overall
appeal of the wine. Clones also contribute
distinctive colors, aromas & flavor
profiles, acidity and tannic structure. For more
information about clonal selections go to
Wine Geeks!
All
this is to say, the "boys" have it going
on! The Pinot
Report
just bestowed the 07 Romililly with a very nice 93
points, just as it did for their first vintage 06.
Sure, there is a learning curve (never stops),
but remember there were early days for
Williams Selyem, Rochioli, Kosta
Browne, Dumol et al. Here comes
Romililly!
Aaron
Inman working at August Briggs.
My
tasting notes of the 2007 Romililly Pinot Noir (14.5%
alcohol). I
will try not to get too carried away as I sit here with
a just opened bottle a few minutes before
noon.
WOW! Here are my notes - Ruby, slight scarlet
hue. Forward aromas of crushed ripe
cherries, raspberries, and pomegranate, with "hide
and seek" nuances of anise, cinnamon, and
faint "forest floor" earthiness. On the palate the
wine is an expansive mouthful of fresh, well
defined red and black cherry fruit.
Hints of dentine gum. Full, and lushly
textured....almost near silky smooth, and in perfect
harmony. The lengthy, fine "vapor trail"
finish shows off with gently quenching
acidity, and finely tuned tannins that bode
well for the future. Just 296 cases
produced. WOW! -
ES
$32.95
for 3 bottles
$31.50 for
six bottles!
ORDER NOW! I need
to let Aaron know how much to drive up for his next
delivery! That's right!! The winemaker
drives up his own wine to deliver to us
personally!! It's refreshing to see that kind of
old fashion, energetic, enterprising spirit and
service!!
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OTHER new 07 Pinot Noir of interest!
2007 Roar Rosella - Santa Lucia Highlands,
Monterey, $49.95 Net WS
93
2007 Roessller RED Label
- Sonoma - $27.95 ($25.16) WS
92
2007 Morlet "Coteaux Nobles" - Sonoma Coast -
$74.95 Net WA
92-94
We will have lots of surprises at the
tasting bar for you this Saturday afternoon!! And
yes, we will be pouring the 07
Romililly Pinot Noir!
The complete Saturday Tasting Bar lineup
is posted at the Virtual Tasting
Bar every Friday afternoon. Be sure
to check it
out! |
The
Wine Consultant- est 1990
Eric
Stumpf
Renee Kroeger
8039
Greenback Lane
Citrus
Heights, CA 95610
(916) 721-WINE
(9463)
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The Wine Consultant | 8039
Greenback Lane | Citrus Heights | CA |
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