Winemaking
We have been tirelessly refining the winemaking practices for our SCM Pinot Noir. This vintage represents the culmination of our efforts and is representative of the emerging style of Fogarty Pinot Noir. We ferment all of our Pinot Noir in small lots, ranging from .5-3 tons.

We utilize between 25-50% whole clusters and ferment the wines without the addition of yeast. Our maceration period lasts from 14-21 days, including a 3-7 day cold soak. We separate the press fraction at the press, this allows us to decide on its inclusion at a later date.

We age our Pinot Noir in 3 year air dried French Oak from the forests of Bertranges, Allier and Troncais. The 2007 “B” Block rested in 50% new oak for 18 months and was bottled unfiltered.

Our 2007 Rapley Trail Vineyard, Block “B”, not produced since 2004, is worth the wait. Delicious red fruit, forest floor flavors and fresh loam flavors are bright and lively. The fruit is juicy and succulent with brisk acidity and fine tannin. “B” block is always a candidate for aging, and this vintage is no exception.

This wine should be a good candidate for a minimum of 5 years of bottle age, though a quick decant, say one to two hours, provides great youthful drinking. A classic SCM Pinot and one not to miss.

Vintage
2007, ahh the memories. What a vintage! The statement ‘Vintage of the Century’ is thrown about far too often, but 2007 certainly is in the running. Moderate temperatures and a light crop were the primary factors in the success of the vintage. The wines really seemed to make themselves. Moderate alcohol, good acidity and tannin levels combined with fantastic concentration are the hallmarks of this superlative vintage. The wines should drink well in their youth but seem to be great candidates for aging.

Vineyards
The Rapley Trail Vineyard was planted in 1981, consisting of six contiguous acres of Pinot Noir vines on our Estate’s rugged southeastern slopes. It has long been the backbone of our past “Estate Reserve” Pinot Noir, but beginning in 2002 we began to bottle portions of the vineyard separately.

This “deconstruction”, if you will, of the vineyard as a whole, is based upon the model of Burgundy, home of the world’s finest Pinot Noir wines. There, as in our vineyard, unique aspects and interactions of soil and climate account for grapes whose very flavor is a direct product of where they are grown; this is the essence of the terroir.

The “B” block lies at the lowest portion of the Rapley Trail Vineyard and is often the first block to ripen; its position at the bottom of the vineyard allows for some protection from the elements. The soil is fractured shale, shallow and well drained. These factors contribute to a much different flavor profile; think sweet cherry fruit, brown spice, cocoa and forest floor. Its lush texture and rich mouth-feel are unique to block “B”.

Tasting Notes
Our 2007 Rapley Trail Vineyard, Block “B”, not produced since 2004, is worth the wait. Delicious red fruit, forest floor flavors and fresh loam flavors are bright and lively. The fruit is juicy and succulent with brisk acidity and fine tannin. “B” block is always a candidate for aging, and this vintage is no exception. This wine should be a good
candidate for a minimum of 5 years of bottle age, though a quick decant, say one to two hours, provides great youthful drinking. A classic SCM Pinot and one not to miss.

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