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Ancien Pinot Noir Russian River Jouissance
Ancien Wines
United States - California - Russian River Valley

Jouissance comes from the southwestern corner of the appellation, only nominally protected by the coastal hills and open to the maritime influence of the Pacific Ocean, is the single source for these grapes. The soils here are sandy loam and very well drained, typical for the Russian River Valley. The cooler sections of Russian River, near Sebastopol, are known for producing explosive and aromatic fruit flavors balanced with acidity and earthy aromas. All seventeen rows are planted with Dijon 115 clone, nudging the wine toward perfumed aromas and light spice notes as a compliment to the lush fruitiness derived from the soils.

Notes of strawberry and tart pie cherry are accompanied by notes of sweet vanillin, toasted hazelnut and coffee as an introduction to this joyfully juicy blend of rich fruit and earthy spice. The wine opens to a well integrated mid-palate of dark berries, toffee and cassis. The broad palate is elevated and brightened with a mouthwatering acidity that welcomes this wine to the table. Sassafras, herbal notes and baking spices are revealed in the satisfying finish.

Specifications
Appellation
Russian River Valley
Wine Type
Red
Varietal(s)
100% Pinot Noir
Soil type
sandy loam and very well drained
Vinification
Fermentation in one ton, open-top tanks, layering the bottom 25% of each tank with whole clusters of fruit, adding structure and spice notes to the back palate and balancing the otherwise plush fruit of Gilbert’s Vineyard. A warm fermentation with a combination of native and isolated Burgundian yeasts produced excellent and focused flavor extraction, complemented with traditional punch-downs by hand. The wine was aged entirely in Francois Freres cooperage, half new, and racked once, gently, prior to bottling. Grapes, must, and wines were moved using gravity through to the barrel and using inert gas through racking and bottling.
Production
241 (9-liter cases)

Reviews and News

2021 Ancien Pinot Noir Russian River Jouissance - 94 PTS - WE

2021 Ancien Pinot Noir Russian River Jouissance - 94 PTS - WE

wine enthusiast 94 pts"Nicely saturated with black fruits and subtle oak spices, this welcoming and mouthfilling wine sips smoothly and goes down easily. Luscious red and black cherries and black currants glide along on soft tannins through a lingering finish. —J.G."

- Wine Enthusiast (April 2024), 94 pts

2019 Ancien Pinot Noir Russian River Jouissance - 93 PTS - WS

2019 Ancien Pinot Noir Russian River Jouissance - 93 PTS - WS

wine spectator 93 pts"Enticing, with succulent griotte, loganberry and anise notes driving through, while lightly singed apple wood and bramble accents underscore the finish, where the fruit takes a full encore. Drink now through 2030. 308 cases made. - JM"

- Wine Spectator (August 2022), 93 pts

Producer Information: Ancien Wines

In 1992, Ancien wines harvested their first two tons of Pinot Noir from four rows atop a knoll in the southwest corner of Carneros. Producing but five barrels, this marked ...
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