Divum Pinot Noir 2017

Viticulture

100% Pinot Noir
100% Monterey County
38% Danny’s Vineyard
62% Grava Vineyard
September 12 - 15, 2017

Certified Sustainable

Vinification

• Grapes de-stemmed into fermenters.
• 100% native fermentation (not inoculated)
• 7 days fermentation
• 7 days extended maceration
• Pressed, settled and rough racked
• 8 months stainless steel & French oak aging
• Racked, filtered to bottling

Tasting notes

Aromas of plum, ripe cherries and lavender are accented by toast and spice. Full body with more plum and cherry on the palate. Integrated notes of French oak and brown spice.

Winery Description

The Story
The Francioni family has been farming grapes in Monterey for four generations, and now brothers Tom and Rob Francioni lead the production of the family's private label, Divum.
Specializing in Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, the varieties best suited to the Monterey region, they take pride in producing wines of the highest quality. All fruit is carefully selected from one of their three vineyard blocks, all of which are certified sustainable.

The Place
The Monterey AVA is known for the influence of the Monterey Canyon, the deepest underwater canyon on the west coast of the United States. The canyon causes a phenomenon known as upwelling, where winds push warm water near the surface away from the shore and bring cold water near the bottom of the canyon closer to the surface. The cold water cools the wind that blows over the ocean, and when it hits the land, it creates fog. Each morning as the sun rises, the southern end of the Salinas Valley warms up and a low-pressure system sends cold foggy air across the ocean and down the valley. Over the course of the day, the valley gradually warms from 10 to 21 degrees Celsius, providing ideal conditions for growing varieties that prefer cooler climates. The effects of the updrafts can be seen throughout Monterey County, but because the vineyard is located in the foothills of the Gavilan Mountains, the fog does not last long in the valley. In the vineyards, the transition from high daytime temperatures to cool night air is more drastic and combined with the long hang time, it makes the varietal character even more pronounced.

The vineyard also has the advantage of being located near a granite quarry. The soil consists of less than one meter of decomposed granite and heavy clay loam. The decomposed granite drains well and is ideal for viticulture. Unlike other agricultural crops, the quality of wine grapes is highly dependent on the complexity of the soil. Vines planted in decomposed granite are capable of retrieving nutrients on their own, resulting in lower yields but producing fruit with intense and complex flavors.