Nose
This 2019 vintage of the Famous Gate Pinot Noir opens with enticing aromas of cooked cherries, red currant, cranberry, and cedar with a top note of mint.
Palate
On the palate, there is sweet Bing cherry, black tea, sassafras, and Asian spice.
Harvest
The 2019 growing season started with saturated soils thanks to abundant winter and spring rains. Cooler weather throughout the summer meant plenty of time for flavors and aromatics to develop, and an early heat spike in August helped push the ample crop of grapes to full maturity, with a harvest start date of August 15th. September weather cooled a bit for a more leisurely harvest of our chardonnay and pinot noir. The wines that resulted show the unique Carneros growing conditions which produce balanced wines with ample fruit and hints of savory elements.
Winemaking
In this iteration, there are three supporting characters - the iconic “Swan” clone is complimented by “Dijon 115” and “Hanzell”, to create the highest expression of our estate grown Carneros terrior. This wine was aged in barrel (51% new) for 16 months, which lends supple tannins and warm savory spice. While poised and delicious to drink now, the bright acidity and persistence of the palate provide evidence for graceful aging.
Food Pairing
We recommend pairing this exquisite wine with equally interesting dishes such as Moroccan lamb tagine with orange and ras el hanout, or fig and prosciutto pizza with caramelized onions.
