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The late spring rains brought poor set conditions to the Sonoma Coast in 2005, but fortunately excellent ripening weather followed. Because the vineyard is fairly protected, McDougall actually did better than many at just 1 ton an acre at harvest. The combination of low fruit yield, but a long, cool ripening period imparted both intensity and balance to the vintage. This is a wine that benefited from all of its 17 months in barrel, and will continue to do so with long aging in the bottle. In the glass it shows the vivid Bing cherry, candied cranberry and mineral elements that we so love in this vineyard. With further time in the glass, the overtones of Asian spices and an almost peaty element lift the core of fruit. In the mouth, the voluptuous fruit is balanced by bright acidity, and a solid structure for food pairing and aging potential. The tannins are particularly fine and sweet, resulting from the long ripening season. This is a Pinot to pair with a great filet, sharp (but not funky) cheeses, or a well made coq au vin. 250 cases produced.
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