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2014 Huge Bear Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Our 100% Pinot Noir exhibits true characteristics of Russian River Valley. Aromas of pomegranate, bright red fruits and baking spices push out of the glass showcasing layers of complexity. The wine has a velvety mouthfeel and racy flavors of pomegranate, cherry compote, and nutmeg with a hint of savory notes. The wine illustrates the detail and nuances of Pinot Noir with great drive and persistence and will pair well with a broad range of food.
The 2014 growing season was one of the driest on record, jump-starting with a warm and dry January and February. This led to an early February bud-break, but also ensured a long growing season with a mid-September harvest. Through spring and summer, the vines enjoyed near perfect temperatures with few heat spikes, allowing the grapes to achieve a density and color that is reflected in the wine.
Food Pairings: Unmistakably Pinot Noir, this versatile wine will pair nicely with many dishes. The bright acidity will pair well with savory dishes and the richness of game, turkey or veal, while the earthy undertones lend themselves to duck with cranberries and pork with a fig compote.
Winemaking Techniques: Fermented for 12 days on the skins, the wine was gently pressed preserving the aromatic freshness. Aged 12 months in 30% new French oak.
The Big Story Behind Huge Bear
At Huge Bear, we’re passionate about making exceptional, hand-crafted wines. Each wine is made in small lots, and is meant be enjoyed with family and friends.
Our wines are inspired by California's rich history and Sonoma County’s long-standing reputation of growing exceptional wine grapes that produce exciting wines. It’s this adventurous spirit of the west that is captured in each bottle of Huge Bear.
What’s in a Name?
The Huge Bear name comes from an article we discovered in the local historic archives from the mid 1800s. The story chronicles the adventures of a huge bear that would come down from the mountains in search of food, surprising the local Justice of the Peace whose home he routinely raided. That elusive bear was never trapped. During this time Thomas Knight (namesake of Knights Valley) was leading the charge to raise the Bear Flag and pronounce California as an independent state. We imagine that the Bear Flaggers were inspired by this local bear, and decided to celebrate the bear’s independent spirit on the California State Bear Flag.
A Spirited Label
The illustration used on our label is adapted from Lynd Ward's classic book The Biggest Bear, winner of the Caldecott Medal in 1953. Mr. Ward illustrated over 200 books and most are now considered American classics. His works include six woodcut graphic novels, of which four have recently been republished. He is also known for his art in watercolor, oil, brush and ink, lithography and mezzotint. You can read more about the amazing life of Lynd Ward on the many websites that are dedicated to his extraordinary life. We are grateful to the copyright owners of Mr. Ward's work, his daughters Robin Ward Savage and Nanda Ward, for their permission to use this amazing art.
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