The vineyards
The 2000 growing season was as close to perfect as it gets. The quality of fruit from this vintage is considered superb. Cooler climate appellations, such as Russian River Valley, fared better than did warmer ones in 2000 as they benefited from a long growing season. Our vineyards in the Russian River Valley yielded a balanced crop of clean, healthy and flavorful grapes that reflected the mild, long growing season with bright and lush aromas and flavors.
Processing
All grapes at J were hand-harvested into small bins and placed by hand as whole clusters without destemming into our special Coquard press for a gentle pressing cycle. Grape juice from the various vineyard lots is fermented and kept separate until blending decisions are made in mid-November. The cuvée (blend) was assembled in December of 2000, cold stabilized to remove excess tartrates, and then bottled over the spring of 2001.
Aging
After the secondary fermentation occurred in the bottle, the wines aged for a minimum of four years in our cool cellar. In 2005, the wines were carefully riddled to remove the yeast sediment responsible for the aging character. Following disgorging, a dosage liqueur of reserve wine and pure cane sugar was added to balance the wine. After the wine was disgorged, it was aged for another six months before being released to ensure a perfect balance of flavors.
Tasting Notes
The long, slow maturation of 2000 Vintage Brut contributes greatly to the complex aromas of toasted almonds, fresh baked brioche, nutmeg and cardamom spice all carried by its delicate effervescence. The palate is smooth with a creamy entry and a vibrant, crisp acidity that shows through in its flavors of apple, Bosc pear and lemon peel leading to a subtle, citrus finish.
Winemaker:George Bursick
Appellation:Russian River Valley
Wine Alcohol:12.5% by volume
Wine Acid:8.10 grams per liter
Wine pH:3.16
Residual Sugar:1.30%
Final Blend:52% Chardonnay, 46% Pinot Noir, 2% Pinot Meunier
Production:3,000 cases