2018 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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2018

Pinot Noir

93 Points | Tasting Panel | Aug 2020

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.