2021 Nightwing Vineyard 'First Flight'

95 Points: Jim Gordon Wine Enthusiast - November 2023

“Super well structured, with lip-smacking acidity and bright, ripe fruit flavors, this wine is a vibrant, palate-cleansing mouthful. Fragrant cinnamon and cloves are lifted by almost electric red cherries, sour cherries and cranberries that light up the palate. The wine is so nervy and fresh despite a full body.”

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. We hand-harvested the grapes exactly when we wished in the cool evening hours of September 6, 7, and 10 of 2021.

2021 marks the inaugural vintage of Pinot Noir from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard, which is named after the indigenous nocturnal birds that keep a watchful eye on the land. Nightwing is also a nod to the original guardian of the property, Vernon Morelli, a former WWII pilot who built a landing strip amid the vineyard. Located in the acclaimed Petaluma Gap AVA, Nightwing Vineyard is perched at 1,200 feet above sea level, where it basks in cool ocean winds and long, sunny days. First Flight is a unique selection from specific blocks and clones that were showing as distinct and special. 40% of this wine is Pommard clone from block 17, 60% is a mix of 667, 777, and Swan clones from blocks 10, 11, and 16.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 14.5%
• cases made:

  523 Cases

• bottling date: 08/10/2022
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 42% new

• fermentation:

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