Wine Spectator score of 87 The 1997 Nichols Pinot Noir, Paragon Vineyard, is bright ruby red. It is smooth, ripe and supple, with an array of plum, cherry, wild berry and spice layered within smoke and toast. Also, it shows an explosion of rich fruit with plenty of elegance and finesse. It finishes with a spicy quality that is rich and full bodied to give it a stunning aftertaste.
Fermentation It is produced in a unique style, 1/3 whole cluster berry fermented in small open top fermenters to facilitate maximum flavor and color extraction. The cap is punched down several times a day over a period of 7 to 10 days.
Barrel Age The Pinot Noir is aged in 100% French Oak from the Allier, Never and Troncais Forest for twelve (12) months. The wine is further aged for an additional 12 months in the bottle. Aging in the bottle allows the wine to rest and round out its natural fruit flavor and aromatic attribute.
Nichols Winery & Cellars TM Nichols Winery is a small winery established in 1991 to produce ultra premium wines with limited production of each Varietal, around 1,200 cases. The winery produces Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon and Franc, Merlot and Zinfandel. It is located in the Edna Valley, San Luis Obispo, CA
Central Coast Wine Region; Edna Valley Appellation Between San Luis Obispo and Oceana, California lies the Edna Valley and Arroyo Grande Valley Appellations. Both valleys are wide open to the cool Pacific winds and fog. This cool climate is ideal for great Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs. Likewise, this climate, and an unusual combination of soils, make it potentially the equal of any winemaking region in the world.
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