2011 Harper's Rest Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir, Russian River Valley
Vineyard Notes
The Harper’s Rest Estate Vineyard is the lowest elevation on the estate at the southeastern edge along Westside Road. This portion of land was once part of an ancient river bed. Over the millennia, the shifting course of the Russian River deposited alluvial material that created soils that can best be described as gravely loam. These extremely well drained soils have a relatively shallow layer of top soils (14-20 inches) followed by layers of river pebbles and weathered stone. The vine’s root system plunges deep beneath the earth in search of water and nutrients. The strain to find water serves as a natural means to the keep vine vigor in check. Resulting yields tend to be less than 2 tons per acre which often results in wines that are more structured and finessed.
The vineyard is named to honor Ruben Harper, a pioneer farmer that settled in the Russian River Valley in the mid-1800’s and home steaded what is now the Arista Estate. Ruben is buried under a California Bay Laurel in the middle of this 2 acre vineyard. Ruben’s headstone and original rock wall surrounding his grave site still stand and can be seen during the estate tour.