2021 The Loch

95 Points: Meridith May The Tasting Panel - May 2024

“Crafted from the best blocks along the Sonoma Coast, The Loch is French-oak aged and a blend of 20 barrels. Expanded notes of espresso and fennel offer a savory, mouth-coating quality. Plum and spiced blueberry link to an earthy middle, but it’s the lilting notes of blue flowers that promote this wine to take flight.”

91 Points: James Suckling JamesSuckling.com - November 2023

“Aromas of red cherries, raspberries and lavender followed by grapefruit zest and blanched almonds with underlying green notes. Medium-bodied, silky and juicy tannins with crisp acidity. Polished and refined. Drink or hold. Screw cap.”

90 Points: Wine Enthusiast Advance Buying Guide

The 2021 vintage delivered a moderate and consistent growing season for most of Sonoma County, leading to a smooth, easily manageable harvest. While the continuation of drought conditions led to slightly reduced yields, the overall quality and concentration of the grapes was exceptional. The grapes for our 2021 The Loch came from many of the sources for our single-vineyard offerings. Day Ranch, Klopp Ranch, Thale’s Vineyard, Dutton Winkler Vineyard, and Nightwing Vineyard are all represented. All grapes were lovingly hand-harvested between August 28 and September 16, 2021.

Combining decades of winemaking mastery with our long history on the Sonoma Coast, The Loch is our consummate Pinot Noir blend, artfully crafted from our best blocks and barrels of wine. “Our goal is simple, but not easy,” says Winemaker Heidi Bridenhagen. “We search our cellar for our most beautiful wines of the vintage—stirring wines that sing on the palate. Then we begin blending.” Like a secret code unlocked by our winemakers, The Loch embodies everything that we know about making great Pinot Noir. We named our pinnacle Pinot Noir and Chardonnay blends The Loch and The Key, both as a nod to our founder Steve MacRostie’s Scottish heritage and to his early experiences as a U.S. Army cryptographer in Europe.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.1
• cases made:

  525

• bottling date: 03/01/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in 20 different barrels: 30% new, 15% one-year-old

• fermentation:

  Gently desteemed into small one-ton fermenters, keeping lots separate; three day cold soak.