2022 Fiddlestix Vineyard

The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in a reduction in yields from 10-30%. The growing season was temperate, which in grape growing means we were on track, or ahead of normal growth. Then we saw some heat spikes that prompted our first picks. The grapes for this wine came from two prized blocks of Fiddlestix Vineyard, one on the floor of the vineyard and one on its rocky hillside. Both were harvested on September 14th, 2022.

The grapes for this Pinot Noir came exclusively from Fiddlestix Vineyard. Located at the western end of the Santa Ynez Valley in the acclaimed Sta. Rita Hills AVA, Fiddlestix Vineyard was planted in 1998 by famed Pinot Noir winemaker Kathy Joseph. It is designed with a unique east-west orientation that draws in ocean breezes and fog from the Pacific, with the fog often hanging over vines until mid-morning, and temperatures rarely exceeding 80 F. This, combined with well-drained soils, creates an intense wine with well-structured tannins.

• composition:

  100% Pinot Noir

• alcohol: 13.7%
• cases made:

  229 Cases

• bottling date: 07/31/2023
• aging:

  Aged 10 months in French oak, 22% new, 55% one-year-old

• fermentation:

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