Wine Color: Red

Vintage: 2006

Varietals: 100% Pinot Noir

Appellation: Arroyo Seco, Monterey

Winemaker: Karl D. Wente

Alcohol: 14.5%

PH: 3.48

Acid: 0.56g/100ml

Residual Sugar: Dry

Vineyard:

Since the early 1960’s, Wente Vineyards has been growing Pinot Noir in the Arroyo Seco region of Monterey.  This wine was named after the creek that runs through the Estate vineyards. Arroyo Seco is the ideal region to grow this Burgundian varietal because of the long, cool growing season, which allows the grapes to fully ripen and develop deep fruit flavors.  The gravelly-loam soils found here, rich with shale and limestone deposits, impart desirable earthy and mineral qualities to the wine. There are several blocks dating back to 1963, which are planted with the old Pommard and Martini clones. Neighboring these are much more recent, high-density plantings that include a variety of new clones.  All of the fruit is hand picked and sorted. 

Fermentation:

The fermentation took place in small, upright, stainless steel fermenters.  The fermenting must was gently pumped-over twice daily. 

Aging:

This wine was aged for 14 months in a combination of new American, French, Eastern European and neutral oak barrels.