2008 Kokomo Winery Windsor Oaks Vineyard Pinot Noir

Mission Codename: The heart of the matter

Operative: Agent Red

Objective: Return to our old friends at Kokomo wines, where rumors are swirling about a soon-to-be-released single vineyard Pinot Noir. Find a way to secure a limited number of cases for our Operatives – before the wine is released to the public

Mission Status: Accomplished!

Current Winery: Kokomo Wines

Wine Subject: 2008 Pinot Noir Windsor Oaks Vineyards – Russian River Valley

Winemaker: Erik Miller

Backgrounder:

The grapes for today’s wine comes from the famous Windsor Oaks Vineyards, in Sonoma County’s Chalk Hill appellation. The Chalk Hill AVA (American Viticultural Appellation) is technically a sup-appellation of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley AVA. Most of the vineyards in the Chalk Hill AVA are located on the western slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains, near the town of Windsor. Vineyards here, which are host to a wide range of grape varietals, are characterized by their volcanic soils that have a chalky appearance. Read Agent Red’s review of today’s wine, followed by his winemaker interview, below.

Wine Spies Tasting Profile:

Look – Beautiful Ruby red, with perfect clarity through the slightly darker heart of the wine. The edge of the wine shows a soft pink. After swirling, tears take forever to emerge, before running slowly down the glass.

Smell – Baked cherry tart, with vanilla and soft baking spice takes the lead. Red raspberry, young strawberry and a hint of cranberry follow easily behind. These fresh and fruity aromatics sit atop a soft earthiness, subtle fresh sage and just a hint of cedar.

Feel – Soft and light-weight at the tip of the tongue, then firm tannins add a mineral dryness that begins at the back of the palate and works it way forward, slowly drying the entire mouth and puckering the lips.

Taste – Led by sweet red cherry, this wine also shows off bright raspberry, tart young strawberry and sweet cranberry. Soft earth and a hint of fall leaves lead to soft a slate-mineral taste at the end.

Finish – This wine starts sweet and then goes slightly tart – which makes the mouth water, as flavors tail off slowly. At the very end, flavors of dried leaves and slate persist.

Conclusion – Finally, a 2008 Pinot Noir that tastes ready to drink! This bright wine does show some youthfulness, but the fruit really pops, delivering a delicious and mouthwatering experience. Certainly a fruit-driven Pinot Noir, this wine will please fans of brightly crafted wines that present plenty of authentic mixed red berry characteristic. The bright fruit is supported by softly earthen qualities that give the wine a more balanced feel. We paired our review bottles with a homemade spicy corn chowder soup. The pairing was perfect.

Mission Report:

WINEMAKER INTEL BRIEFING DOSSIER

SUBJECT: Erik Miller

WINE EDUCATION: See Bio (attached)

CALIFORNIA WINE JOB BRIEF: See Bio (attached)

WINEMAKING PHILOSOPHY: Keep my thumbprint off the wines as much as possible and let the vineyard show through. Terrior is what makes the wine unique and I believe it is the winemakers job to ensure it is not lost in the winemaking process.

WINEMAKER QUOTE:

FIRST COMMERCIAL WINE RELEASE: (DATE) 2005

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WINEMAKER INTERVIEW

AGENT RED: Greetings, Erik. We are thrilled to be showing your 2008 Windsor Oaks Vineyard Pinot Noir today. Thanks so much for taking some time to answer questions for our Operatives today.

ERIK MILLER: We are excited to be second covert mission and thank you for your continued support.

RED: It is our pleasure. We really love your wines. Tell me, was there a specific experience in your life that inspired your love of wine?

ERIK: Working my first harvest and experiencing fermentation!

RED: What wine or winemaker has most influenced your winemaking style?

ERIK: My neighbors’ Pinots. Papapietro Perry definitely inspired me to embrace California Pinot. Delicious!

RED: Who do you make wine for?

ERIK: We make wine for food, but it is important that the wine can be enjoyed on its own.

RED: Please tell me a little bit about the wine we are featuring today.

ERIK: It is a blend of four different clones of Pinot Noir from the Russian River Valley. A great food wine and a true expression of the Russian River Valley.

RED: What is your favorite pairing with today’s wine?

ERIK: Pork tenderloin with a Pinot Noir sauce.

RED: In your opinion, what makes the Chalk Hill AVA so special?

ERIK: The coastal influence. Cool nights, coastal fog, and soil with a distinct minerality. Truly one of the standout appellations in all of California.

RED: What is occupying your time at the winery these days?

ERIK: Getting ready for harvest. Sampling vineyards and sanitizing, sanitizing, sanitizing.

RED: How would you recommend people approach your wines and wine in general?

ERIK: As a beverage! I want people to take their time to find the subtleties and complexities, but not be pretentious about wine.

RED: Thank you so much for your time. We learned a lot about you – and your wine. Keep up the great work, we are big fans!

Wine Spies Vineyard Check:

The location of the Windsor Oaks Vineyards and Winery in the Chalk Hill AVA can be seen in this satellite photo.

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