2012 Joseph Swan Pinot Noir Great Oak Vineyard Russian River Valley

The vineyard is located in the hills above the Russian River north of Forestville. Several different clones of pinot noir are planted on Franciscan derived soils interspersed with fractured shale and sandstone. There are a total of 5 small blocks of pinot noir scattered across the 46 acres of this very steep and hilly property. The densely planted vines are trained in a vertical curtain system. The very poor rocky soils and low low production clones result in crop levels that are among the lowest for pinot noir anywhere. Due to low crop levels and slightly warmer temperatures than on the valley floor, this is usually our first pinot noir vineyard harvested.