Product Description
PINOT NOIROur 2013 Aquinas Pinot Noir is an intensely aromatic wine displaying notes of sweet cherry, Tahitian vanilla crème brulee and raspberry compote. It has a remarkably rich fruit favor of sweet cranberry and pomegranate, both nuances of Napa, along with sour cherry and a pleasant earthiness, contributions from the Sonoma Coast. Bright acidity leads some of the fruit favors to have a tart edge followed by a hint of dried lavender and a delicate touch of French oak to round out the palate. The addition of Petite Sirah gives mid-palate weight to this bright, medium-bodied wine. The earthiness of mushroom risotto will highlight the fruit characters of this wine, while the robust acidity and aromatic qualities are a perfect complement to white pizza with fresh herbs.APPELLATIONNapa Valley is recognized as one of the top wine regions in the United States and its not surprising. Its unique for the diversity of its soils found in such a small geographical area. Bordered by two mountain ranges, the valley stretches approximately 30 miles north to south, one mile east to west at its narrow northern end and five miles at its widest point near the town of Napa. Its maritime climate of warm days and cool nights coupled with deep, yet not excessively fertile, soils makes it ideally suited for the cultivation of ultra-premium grapes. The first grapes were planted here in 1838, and today Napa accounts for four percent of Californias total wine production, focusing primarily on the top-end of the wine market.Sonoma County borders Napa Valley along the Mayacamas Range in the east and Mendocino in the north. The region offers diverse environments including valley, hillside, moist ocean coast, dry inland, cool southern regions and warmer northern areas. A vastly diverse range of topography, distinct microclimates and small valleys, along with cooling maritime influence and moderate climate are part of why Sonoma County is said to embody a perfectly balanced environment for grape growing.VINTAGEWinemakers have heralded the 2013 harvests outstanding quality. Ideal conditions prompted bud break much earlier than expected; the warm, dry spring provided for consistent flowering and fruit set throughout the valley. Vine activity was at its peak due to steady temperatures, and with only one heat spike, the grapes were able to mature on the vines as predicted and preferred. Yields were above average and first pick for most varietals happened about two weeks earlier than the usual; for most growers, this was the earliest pick in a quarter of a century. Cool nights and gentle winds increased quality across the board and helped create wines with personality and complex character.OUR PHILOSOPHYAquinas wines were born from our conviction that good wine, one of lifes simple pleasures, should be easily accessible to all. In championing this philosophy we didnt take the easy route. We headed straight for the esteemed appellations of the North CoastNapa and Sonoma counties, where we began crafting luxurious wines that would be priced within reach of most wine drinkers.Aquinas wines are named in tribute of St. Thomas Aquinas, a revolutionary philosopher of the 13th century who used scientic methods to try to prove the existence of a higher being. Just as St. Thomas sought to question the assumptions of his world, we seek to challenge the assumptions of ours.VarietalPinot Noir96% Pinot Noir4% Petite SirahAppellationNorth CoastVintage2013WinemakerGreg KitchensAlcohol14.5%Ph3.62TA5.9 g/L
