2020 Pinot Noir, Sonoma County • St. Francis Winery & Vineyards

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97 Points & Double-Gold | North Coast Wine Challenge

Tasting Notes

Expressive and aromatic with bright fruit flavors of red cherry, raspberry and pomegranate that are balanced with spicy notes of dried orange peel and sandalwood. Fresh acidity from start to smooth finish shows off the wine’s vibrancy.

Vintage Notes

The 2020 growing season enjoyed near-perfect growing conditions. With minimal rain this winter, the vines were awakened with ideal, moderate spring-time temperatures and no frost threat to the developing buds. Veraison occurred 7-10 days earlier than previous years due to the temperate weather. Even daytime temperatures and cool nights throughout the summer months with a few short-lived heat spikes allowed for excellent flavor development. The year saw an early end to harvest as wildfires threatened the region.

Vineyard Notes

We source our Pinot Noir fruit from vineyards located in the cooler areas of Sonoma County including 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 roll 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, 20% new, where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation followed by aging for eight months before blending and bottling.