The Wine
2005 Vintage
Pinot Noir - Keefer
Keefer Ranch is owned and managed by Marcy Keefer along with her son Craig Strehlow. The vineyard has 50 planted acres, 20 to Chardonnay and 30 to Pinot Noir. Located in the heart of Green Valley, the site has a superb micro-climate, offering just the right amount of warmth during the day and very cool nights which leads to grapes that produce an intensely red fruited wine with strong natural acidity and focus. We were fortunate to obtain a small allocation of fruit in 2005 which consisted of three clones; Pommard 5, 777 and 23.
Aromatics:
Tightly focused raspberry and cranberry dominate the nose, supplemented with a slight note of orange peel.
On the palate:
Elegant and bright, the Keefer represents many red fuits, typical of the Green Valley. Raspberry, cranberry, dried cherries and light floral notes are the primary forward flavors. Nuances of raspberry tea offer elegant tannins and smooth structure.