With a deep, concentrated color and enticing aromas of perfumed oak, this wine beautifully embodies its cool-climate roots. On the palate, it is impeccably balanced, with generous fruit flavors of plum and ripe red berries, as well as hints of baking spice. Displaying both supple tannins and bright acidity, this is a wonderfully versatile wine for pairing with an array of cuisines.
The majority of the grapes were destemmed into small-lot fermenters to capture the uniqueness of each site. About 15% of the fruit was fermented with whole clusters to add fruit aromas and rich complexity to the final wine. Following a two-week fermentation on the skins, the wine was drained and put into French oak barrels for ten months of aging. While 30% new French oak was used to accentuate the structure and color of the wine and to add mid-palate richness, we took care with the new oak and toast levels to not overwhelm the delicate aromas of this fine coastal Pinot Noir. Bottling took place on May 24th-26th, 2023.
The 2022 vintage was impacted by a third consecutive year of drought that resulted in up to a 10-30% reduction in yields. 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. 2022 was a year for vintage to vintage variation and differentiation between vineyards. Grapes for this wine were harvested by hand between August 31st and September 12th of 2022.
The grapes for this Pinot Noir came from a handful of top vineyards throughout the Sonoma Coast AVA, with a focus on some of the finest sub-appellations within the region. The blend includes grapes from our Thale’s Estate Vineyard in the heart of the Russian River Valley. Other vineyards located in the Russian River Valley include River Road Ranch, the Dutton family’s Winkler and Calesa vineyards, and the Sangiacomo’s Tallgrass and Huichica vineyards in Carneros. We were also excited to include fruit from our new Nightwing Estate Vineyard in the Petaluma Gap AVA.
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