TASTING NOTES
This brand-new, 2016 Lazy Creek Vineyards Pinot Noir is a blend of grapes from our ranches in the Anderson Valley. Delicious and sustainably-farmed, this wine has aromas of spice, cola, plum blossom, black fruit, floral notes and graphite. The palate is rich and juicy with generous dark plum, acai and blueberry pie with cinnamon, clove and toast lingering on the finish.

VINTAGE NOTES
Peaceful and bucolic Anderson Valley, located just off the coastal region of Mendocino County, has warm, sunny days and cool, foggy mornings and nights that are ideal for growing grapes. The 2016 growing season started with a warm spring and some much needed rain. Bloom occurred in late May with a very bountiful set. Summer weather was ideal with not a lot of heat spikes and a mild August that allowed for ideal ripening. September brought warmer days and pushed the grapes to optimal ripeness. Harvest began mid-September and finished October 1.

WINEMAKER NOTES
The hand-harvested grapes are brought to the winery in macrobins where they are gently destemmed and transferred to small, stainless steel open-top fermenters or bins. After a three day cold soak at 50 degrees Fahrenheit to optimize fruit aromas and flavors, various yeast strains are introduced for complexity. Fermentors are punched down one to three times per day. Wines are pressed when dry and then racked to barrels to complete malolactic fermentation. The final blend was assembled in July and bottled in August.

FOOD PAIRINGS
The Lazy Creek Vineyards Anderson Valley Pinot Noir is delicious paired with braised meats, fowl, veal, salmon, lobster and prawns. Medium-textured soups and stews are also complementary. For cheese pairings with our Pinot Noir, try Gruyère, Gouda, French chévre, Comté, Edam or a light Cheddar.