Heritage Pinot Noir

Description

VINTAGE

The 2021 vintage was the best in recent memory as our winegrowers enjoyed a smooth harvest following a moderate and consistent growing season. Defined by a cool start to the season that brought on slow and even ripening. Warmer days followed with few heat spikes allowing the grapes to ripen while maintaining bright, fresh, clean fruit flavors. Foggy mornings and long warm summer days set the stage for vibrant and expressive wines.

VITICULTURE

We work very closely with our growers, only harvesting fruit from those who truly understand the challenges of such a temperamental grape variety. Over 93% of this vintage comes from the Sonoma side of Los Carneros and the remaining is sourced from the Napa side. We match the best sites with the best clones suited to those sites, and as such, our Pinot Noir is a combination of choice clones sourced from premier vineyards throughout Los Carneros, providing a dynamic spectrum of characteristics and flavors for the final master blend. Clones from the vineyards include:

• Swan: This heirloom clone named for Joseph Swan – produces small clusters of intense aromas and bright red fruit flavors.
• Martini: Brings extremely soft, ripe and sweet berry flavors.
• Dijon 777: These generally mid-size berries offer the dark fruit aromas and elegant tannin structure.
• Pommard: Produces the firm tannins, deep color and a touch of spice.

WINEMAKING

Our winemaker closely monitored the grapes during the final stages of ripening, tasting them regularly to determine the ideal ripeness. The fruit was picked on taste in conjunction with grape analysis and harvested into small bins over several days at peak ripeness. Grapes were gently de-stemmed into small open-top fermenters for optimal color extraction, where they were inoculated with Burgundian yeast selections. At the end of primary fermentation, the free-run portions of wine went into French oak barrels (~30% new), while the remaining skins were gently pressed to extract more color. Dozens of lots were barreled separately by vineyard, as well as individual vineyard blocks to mature separately for eight months in primarily French oak barrels.

TASTING NOTES

Lush red fruit aromas of strawberry and blackberry with a hint of spice are extended on the palate with flavors of pomegranate coupled with round black tea-like tannins. Our Los Carneros Pinot Noir is an ideal wine to savor on its own as well as a perfect pairing for glazed duck breast, chicken Marsala or mild, creamy cheeses like brie and camembert.