Punch Vineyards "Proof of the Pudding" Pinot Noir 2013
(Anderson Valley, California)

Notes from the Winemaker:
Proof is made by Punch Vineyards. Our first goal was to create a wine in the Punch style: 1) pure flavors from the grapes, free of excessive oak, alcohol and tannins; 2) velvety mouthfeel; and 3) mouthwatering finish. We harvested Goldilocks style, when the grapes were “just right” – riper than Champagne style, but with more acid than many big Pinot Noirs. Proof strives to create a unique Pinot Noir with an intriguing, explosive duality. If you find this in our wine, thank winemaker Miguel for mastering the holy grail of grape varieties. We picked from just a few rows in one vineyard, so there was but one lot. It was at crush and fermentation that the lot was split into two to achieve the intriguing, explosive duality mentioned above. Different durations of cold soak. Some whole cluster fermentation, temperature variation, and other quirky techniques Miguel has developed on his own over the years. We used no new oak barrels, but both lots were aged nine months in French oak primarily for texture. The two lots were reunited just before bottling. Six months in the bottle is revealing the two sides of Pinot Noir!

Of California’s prestige Pinot Noir appellations, Anderson Valley is the coolest and farthest north, just above the Sonoma Coast AVA. This makes for daredevil winemaking! Inland heat pulls fog from the ocean into Anderson Valley, so it gets foggier in the warmer years. Proof Pinot Noir was sourced from one of our “insider” vineyards beyond Philo, adjacent to the source for some of California’s most expensive labels. 2013 is well regarded as a trouble-free vintage from beginning to end. The grape flavors were concentrated, with acidity and ripeness well balanced.

Technical Details