description

3 Blocks Pinot Noir Comes from 3 different unique sites on the Fox Family Vineyard. Dijon Clones “667, 777 & 828” are planted in 3 different blocks in silty, rocky soil on the Naramata Bench, sitting at about 600 metres above sea level. The vineyard was planted in 2011 and is going into its 14^th leaf this year. The Fox Vineyard is also treated mostly organically, so we don’t believe in using pesticides, herbicides or toxic sprays in the vineyard. We strongly believe in a happy ecosystem that helps promote the natural herbicides in the soil.

The 667, 777, and 828 blocks roughly make up just over 1 hectare of land which is situated on the highest and lowest areas of the Fox Vineyard. The Vineyard is planted southwest-facing for optimal sunlight and during the day It receives early and late afternoon sun. These 3 blocks tend to ripen all at different stages and the 667 crops a bit higher and needs to be thinned because of its high vigor and larger clusters.

Harvest is usually in late September or early October, and the fruit is then picked when it has reached its optimal ripeness. The fruit is picked and sorted on the vine into baskets and then processed in the morning due to the cooler temperatures that favour the fruit. With the 3 Blocks, all the fruit is usually a mix of Wholecluster and some whole berry destemming with no crushing equipment involved. The fermentation is around 14-18 days on its skins but that all depends on the vintage. We use indigenous yeasts as well as a few cultured yeasts for most of our ferments. When the fermentation is complete, we then rack off the free run and gently press the wine off of its skins with the use of a small basket press.  This wine was aged in 75% neutral French Oak and 25% new French oak for roughly 11 months before it went unfiltered to bottle. I find the 3 Blocks has nice aromas and flavours of cherry, liquorice, red currants, plums, graphite and a touch of spice.

 ALC: 13%   PH: 3.6   TA: 6.5