WINEMAKER NOTES

2017 Suacci Vineyard Pinot Noir does not lack complexity. The rich aromas of cherry, dark fruit tones, cedar box, dried rose petals and raspberry jam dance in your glass with each swirl before you unfold the wine as it reveals each layer of blackberry, black currant, clove, tobacco and strawberry jam on the palate. The wine goes on forever on the finish and keeps revealing more layers as it opens up with time.

WINEMAKING TECHNIQUES

Clusters were hand harvested in at night to ensure gentle processing of cool fruit. At the winery, the grapes were hand sorted, destemmed, and 10% of fruit was left "whole cluster" for complexity. The grapes were then fermented in small open top bins with hand punchdowns conducted twice per day.  A blend of natural and cultured yeasts were used for fermentation. At dryness, the grapes were pressed directly into a combination of  40% new French oak barrels for 11 months aging. The final blend consists of the winemakers selection of the best barrels.

VINTAGE NOTES

The 2017 growing season was a welcome one for the vineyards.  There was record rainfall in the vineyards and the temperatures stayed cool from late winter into early spring, thus preventing another early bud break for the vines.  Bud break occurred in mid-march and late rains in April kept the cover crops for nutrients strong and growing.  The cool gloomy days gave way to sunshine in May when the flowering of the vines occurred.  The weather conditions allowed for an above average set for most grape varietals.  Overall the 2017 vintage looks to be a very good one with the long cool winter, lots of rain to fill the rain tables, sunshine and moderate heat during bud break and consistent temperatures throughout the summer.  There was some extreme heat late in the growing season that minimally affected some growers.

FRUIT SOURCE

Suacci Vineyard is a 6.5-acre vineyard planted on south facing slopes of the Sebastopol Hills in Blucher Valley. An especially cool pocket of the Russian River Valley, there are short windows of heat in the midday, followed once again by the ocean breezes which flow through the Petaluma Gap. With low yields and tiny clusters, this vineyard consistently produces Pinot Noir with intense, complex flavors and pronounced acidity.

THE WINERY

Bailarín Cellars was created in 2014 by a collective of family and friends, each following their respective passions. Together we focus on producing small lots of handcrafted wines from unique vineyard sources. We are proud to share the fruits of our labor and love with you.