2002 PINOT GRIGIO
CARNEROS - LAIRD FAMILY VINEYARD

Tasting Notes: Immediate, forward fruit and a ripe, rich mouth, the 2001 Pinot Grigio's persistent aromatics reflect white fruit - lychee, white peach and Asian pear. Its texture is rich and silky, with honey and subtle, cool tropical fruit flavors, bright acidity and a long finish.

Grapes: The 2002 vintage was produced from the Laird Family Vineyard in Sonoma-Carneros, where the Bay winds keep the vineyards cooler. This allows the grapes to develop rich, luscious flavors with low enough sugar and high enough acid. The grapes in these vineyards ripen evenly and develop surprisingly rich flavors at 21-22° brix at harvest.

Vinification: Pinot Grigio in California requires special handling because it has red skins. The grapes are brought in cold from the early morning harvest in the fog that covers Carneros. They are pressed quickly to avoid red color pickup and then fermented in last year's François Frères Chardonnay barrels to give a hint of oak to enhance the fruit. The barrels allow lees-stirring but little oak is imparted and malo-lactic is not used. After aging three to four months, the wine is bottled. This produces a wine with depth, flavor and great style - meaning all the facets are right.

Notes from Bob Long: Be advised - this is not a light-weight Pinot Grigio á la its Italian cousin! Rather, this is a full, rich dinner wine. Stylistically though it has Pinot Grigio's crisp acidity on the finish, which makes it great for food pairing. To showcase its versatility, we like to serve it with cerviche of scallops and shrimp made with jalapeño peppers, cilantro, and lime juice. We are proud that Long Vineyards produced Napa Valley's first Pinot Grigio - in 1992.

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