Winemaker Notes
A lush and evocative expression of Russian River Valley Pinot Noir, this wine reveals aromas of Bing cherry, pomegranate and raspberry, as well as earthy undertones that add nuance and depth. On the palate, it is rich and luxurious, with layers of pure varietal fruit and baking spices, seamlessly integrated oak and a vibrant underlying acidity that carries the wine to a long, balanced finish.
Production
2017 offered idyllic growing conditions with plentiful winter and spring rains, which led to an excellent fruit set. While the summer was warm, with occasional heat spikes, healthy canopies and thoughtful pruning provided ideal dappled sunlight on the vines. Just as our Chardonnay and Pinot Noir were achieving ideal ripeness, a major heat event hit the valley. The result was an extremely brisk harvest with long nights of hand-picking and days full of sorting, destemming and pressing. While the pace of harvest was challenging, the fruit came in beautifully, fermented flawlessly and yielded wines with vibrant fruit and lovely acidity.