2015 Champlin Creek

91 Points: Virginie Boone Wine Enthusiast - 8/1/18

"This is an earthy wine, funky in rose garden and compost, with a demure entry that develops into a more full-bodied sense of thickness and dense tannin over time. There's a nice flourish of strawberry and rhubarb that takes on a compote-like lushness. "

A bit warmer than average, the 2016 growing season proved to be a very good one, with near-perfect conditions for growing Pinot Noir. A well-timed cool spell in August slowed ripening down, enabling the fruit to develop evenly to full maturity without sugars being too high. The vines at Champlin Creek are planted on a hillside to Clone 667. The clusters are loose and the berries are very small, which results in a low juice-to-skin ratio. The grapes were picked on September 19, 2016.

The grapes for this Pinot Noir came exclusively from Champlin Creek, an exceptional vineyard located on a windswept hillside in western Carneros near Sonoma Town. Champlin Creek features volcanic soils, which means it is rocky and well-drained. The site’s challenging combination of wind and rocky soils results in a wine with deep color and excellent tannins.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.50%
• bottling date: 10/31/2017
• aging:

  Aged 12 months in French oak, 17% new, 48% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into open-top fermenters; three day cold soak; cap management included pump-overs & punch-downs