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BACK
  • 2018

Pinot Noir

93 Points | Tasting Panel | Aug 2020

Pinot Noir, Sonoma County

Tasting Notes

This bright, medium-bodied Pinot Noir shows off an abundance of red cherry and baking spice aromas followed by a burst of flavors with notes of pomegranate, juicy strawberry, fresh raspberry, and chamomile tea. This expressive wine has a soft and silky texture that finishes with a bit of toasted nut and orange zest.

Vintage Notes

A fairly mild growing season with few heat spikes allowed our 2018 harvest to begin right after Labor day, later than previous years. The consistent growing season and cooler temperatures allowed for slow ripening and deep flavor development resulting in exceptional quality fruit with remarkable balance and brightness.

Vineyard Notes

We source our Pinot Noir fruit from vineyards located in the cooler areas of Sonoma County including Sonoma Coast, Russian River Valley, and Bennett Valley. These areas experience a marine influence from the Pacific Ocean and San Pablo Bay as cool air, fog, and wind rolls in at night during the summer, dropping temperatures substantially. This natural air-conditioning is ideal for Pinot Noir as it allows the grapes to develop deep flavors while retaining natural acidity.

Winemaker Notes

To capture the distinct varietal characteristics of each vineyard, the lots are fermented separately starting with a five to ten-day cold soak to extract optimal color and flavor. After a long, slow fermentation the wine is racked off into French Oak barrels, 25% new, where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation followed by aging for eight months before blending and bottling.

Pinot Noir, Sonoma County
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WINEMAKER

Katie Madigan

COLLECTION

Classic Collection

GRAPE VARIETIES
100% Pinot Noir
ALCOHOL
14.2 %
CASES PRODUCED
800
AGING
8 Months
Bottling Date
Apr 2019
Barrel
French Oak, 25% New

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Accolades

92 Pts | North Coast Wine Competition | April 2021
92 Pts | International Women's Wine Competition | May 2021
Gold Medal | International Women's Wine Competition | May 2021
Double Gold Medal | SF Chronicle Wine Competition | March 2021

Food Pairing

Salmon Salad

Grilled Salmon Salad with a Sherry-Honey-Mustard Vinegar

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Accolades

97 Points | Harvest Terroir Challenge
Best-of-Class | Harvest Terroir Challenge
Best of Sonoma Coast AVA | Harvest Terroir Challenge
Double Gold | Harvest Terroir Challenge

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97 Pts | North Coast Wine Challenge | April 2023
Double Gold | North Coast Wine Challenge | April 2023
Best of Class | North Coast Wine Challenge | April 2023
92 Points | Wine Enthusiast | February 2023
Best of Class | San Francisco Chronicle Competition | January 2023

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92 Points | Suckling Tasting | Dec 2019

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92 Points | International Women's Wine Competition | June 2019
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Gold Medal | Press Democrat North Coast Challenge | April 2019

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Accolades

Gold Medal | SF Chronicle Wine Competition | January 2016
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