BACK
92 pts. | James Suckling
92 pts., Gold Medal | Sunset International Wine Competition
Tasting Notes
This bright, flavorful Pinot Noir shows off layers of flavors and aromas. A touch of fresh cherry, pomegranate and sarsaparilla are balanced with spicy notes of black tea, orange peel and cinnamon stick. A burst of acidity and silky texture on the finish round out this rich, yet refreshing wine.
Vintage Notes
Cooler temperatures and an abundance of spring rains in 2023 pushed back the first day of harvest to the beginning of September. The later start and extra ripening time for the fruit allowed flavors and color to develop slowly for depth and concentration. Warm fall days spread out harvest to the end of October for many of the red varieties, with a final pick of Merlot delivered to the winery on November 2.
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 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, 20% new, where it undergoes natural malolactic fermentation followed by aging for eight months before blending and bottling.
