Ramey, Russian River Valley (Sonoma County, California) Pinot Noir 2016

 David Ramey interned at Ets. Jean-Pierre Moueix in France after completing his graduate enology studies at U. C. Davis in 1979.  Later in his career he worked with Christian Moueix at Dominus in the Napa Valley.  His winemaking approach and techniques are strongly influenced by what he learned from these experiences.  For example, this Pinot Noir was tank fermented with native yeasts.  The must was protected from oxygen to preserve fruit freshness.  It was aged sur lies, allowing the expired yeast cells, to stabilize color and add creaminess to the mouthfeel.  The wine was aged 14 months in 49 percent French oak barrels.  With approximately three years in the bottle this elegant and complex wine exhibits ripe black cherry, pomegranate, vanilla aromas.  In the mouth black cherry, strawberry fruit complemented by a mélange of orange zest, cardamom and tobacco is restrained and supported by vibrant acidity and fine-grained tannins.  Enjoy with a pork roast or grilled salmon.