Vineyard: Balistreri

Articles mentioning wines produced from this vineyard

Sonoma Coast Vineyards: West County Pinot Noirs (7.17 5/7/2009)
Pinots from the Edge (6.57 4/7/2008)
Pinots to Covet (8.40 6/30/2011)
Sonoma Coast Vineyards (6.14 1/29/2007)

Wineries sourcing from this vineyard

Sonoma Coast Vineyards

Reviewed wines produced from this vineyard

2008 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Balistreri Vineyard Bodega Ridge Block Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., pH 3.62, 117 cases, $50. Inaugural release of this wine. Sourced from the western parcel of the Balistreri Vineyard located in Freestone overlooking the town of Bodega. Soil type is Goldridge. Clones 114, 777 and 828. 20%-25% whole cluster. 10-day cold soak, hand punch downs, inoculated to finish fermentation. Aged 18 months in 65% 36 months air-dried Sirugue French oak barrels. Lightly fined and filtered. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. Aromas of plum sauce, exotic spices, black currants, dark chocolate and seasoned oak. Intense core of sweet black cherry cola flavor persisting on the fruit-driven finish which leaves a subtle hint of tar in its wake. Smooth in texture, with good tannic support. A fruit lovers wine that is similar to the 2007 Balistreri Family Vineyard bottling but veers to riper flavors. Good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2007 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Balistreri Family Vineyard Freestone View Block Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.6% alc., pH 3.50, 342 cases, $75. Released June 2010. Clones 114, 115, 667, 777 and 828. 20% whole cluster, extended 10-day cold soak, hand punch downs, inoculated to finish fermentation, aged 18 months in 70% new 36 month air-dried Sirugue French oak barrels. Lightly fined and filtered. · Moderate reddish-purple color in the glass. With coaxing, red and black fruit aromas emerge set off by scents of forest floor and oak. Nicely composed with well-mannered tannins embracing a tasty medium-weight core of black cherries and black raspberries with an earthy undertone and a kiss of mocha, finishing with a slight grip of citrus on the big finish. A smooth mouth feel completes the experience. An interesting wine that changes in the glass over time. Decanting suggested if you open a bottle now. Very good. Reviewed July 1, 2011 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Freestone Hills Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.2% alc., 270 cases, $62. Balistreri (4%) and Zephyr (96%) vineyards. Yields one-half to one ton per acre. 75% de-stemmed, 25% whole clusters, 8-10 day cold soak, hand punch downs, fermentation initiated with wild yeast and finished with Assmanhausen yeast. Aged 21 months in 50% new 3-year-old air-dried tight grain French oak barrels. Lightly fined and filtered. · Ripe berries and cherries create a glass-filling presence on the nose. High-collared ripe dark fruit with a riff of herbs and loam and a healthy acidic spine leaving an impression of grapefruit peel on an amazingly long finish. This wine has more cajones, the ripest fruit and the most comforting mouthfeel of any of the other 2005 vintage Pinot Noirs from Sonoma Coast Vineyards. Tasted again the next day from a previously opened re-corked bottle, it was even better portending a long life ahead. Reviewed May 7, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2005 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Balistreri Family Vineyard Freestone View Block Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

13.9% alc., 72 cases, $67. Clones 114, 115, 667 and 828. 30% whole cluster, 11 day cold soak, hand punch downs two to three times a day, wild and proprietary yeast fermentation. Aged 21 months in 50% new 3-year-old air-dried, tight grain French oak barrels. Lightly fined and filtered. · Aromas of a fresh dark cherry pie entice. Demure dark stone fruits with plentiful oak and a vein of citrus that lingers on the finish. A bit austere and tight now but showing respectable finesse and soft tannins. This wine will perform beautifully at the dinner table. Reviewed May 7, 2009 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Balistreri Family Vineyard Freestone View Block Sonoma Coast Pinot Noir

14.37% alc., 454 six-bottle cases, $100. The original 4-acre Freestone View Block of the Balistreri Family Vineyard was planted to a range of Pinot Noir Dijon clones in 1999. The 1- acre Alessio Block was added in 2005, two additional blocks were planted to Pinot Noir: Salmon Creek (3.4 acres) and the Bodega Ridge (4.2 acres). The southern-facing property is quite special, situated one mile west of Freestone and a mere four and half miles from the Pacific Ocean. Owned by Jack and Kathy Balistreri, this vineyard is one of the coldest vineyards on the extreme Sonoma Coast. High density planting of five Dijon clones (114, 115, 667, 777, 828). Yields are less than one ton per acre. 25% whole cluster. 10-day cold soak after clones blended together. Aged 20 months in 50% new French oak (36-month air dried barrels. Sonoma Coast Vineyards plans to build a winery on the Balistreri property in the near future. · Deep reddish-purple robe. Aromatic profile is complex with intense dark plum fruit, forest floor, steak char, roses and a little good funk. Attractive wild berry core with herbal overtones. Velvety texture and plenty of snappy acidity at end. Still relatively young and shy, cellaring for one to two years will reward the patient. Reviewed April 7, 2008 WINERY » ARTICLE »

2004 Sonoma Coast Vineyards Ballisteri Vineyard Pinot Noir

14.37% alc., <200 cases, $100. Will not be released until the summer of this year. I wanted to get my hands on some of this now. The wine is from the Ballistreri Family vineyard, Freestone View Block , consisting of Dijon clones 114, 115, 667, 777, and 828. · Still tight like its estate brethren, the aromatics attack the senses with wondrous Pinot extracts. It is fat in the mouth with dark stone fruit, game and soy flavors accented by healthy tannins and an explosive finish. The generous acid backbone portends a long life. Reviewed January 29, 2007 WINERY » ARTICLE »