NEW PLANTINGS AT LAUGHLIN FAMILY VINEYARDS

In 2006 we acquired the balance of the vineyard blocks at the Laughlin Family Vineyard in Russian River. This thirty-two acre vineyard was planted in the early 1970’s in an array of varietals. Working with the owner we evaluated the blocks and kept two blocks of Chardonnay and two blocks of Pinot Noir. After removing the other plantings, we amended and cultivated the soils, installed modern trellising and irrigation, and chose varietals that were in keeping with our Burgundian theme, best suited to the site.

Our Pinot Noir clonal selections will feature “828” and a special DRC clone, along with smaller plantings of “777”, and the Calera and Swan clones. The Chardonnay plantings will feature selections of the “Old Wente” clone from the Hyde Vineyard, spiced up with a small planting of the aromatic French clone “809”. The rootstock was planted in 2007; the grafting will be done this Spring. We feel the combination of this great site in Russian River with assiduous and modern farming practices bode well for outstanding wines to be produced from these new blocks.