Bethel Heights Wadenswil Reserve Pinot Noir 1998

The Wädenswil clone normally performs best in the warmer vintages: 1998 was a warm vintage with an unusually small crop, leading to one of the best vintages we have seen at Bethel Heights. This is clearly the most powerful wine we produced in 1998. The grapes were picked on October 6th under dry conditions. Fermentation started spontaneously on the third day, and it was pressed on the 12th day, completing malolactic the following Spring. It was racked once and bottled without filtration after 16 months in the barrel. Every vintage has its pleasant surprises, and this was ours for 1998. Deep, dark, and rich, this wine has both a youthful forwardness and great aging potential.