Nose
Complex aromas of red cherries and dried cranberries are interlaced with a savory grilled herb nuance.
Palate
Red raspberry and kirsch flavors complement silky tannins and layered mouthfeel.
Growing Conditions
Arrendell Vineyard sits in arguably the coldest spot in the Green Valley sub-appellation of the Russian River Valley AVA. Each year this old-vine Pinot Noir vineyard, planted in 1975, struggles to ripen a very small (often < 1 ton/acre) crop of the Heirloom Martini clone. Pinot Noir is usually one of the earliest ripening varietals in Sonoma County, but the Arrendell Pinot Noir is often picked after much of Sonoma County’s Cabernet Sauvignon (the latest ripening red varietal) is harvested. The cold mesoclimate that results from cool air settling in this low-lying vineyard preserves natural acidity in the grapes and helps preserve the pure expression of the unique, ultra complex terroir in this wine. Balanced natural acidity and density of distinct flavors that result from these adverse conditions also accentuate the potential for extended aging of Arrendell Vineyard Pinot Noirs.
Bottling
Unfined and unfiltered
Winemaking
Native yeast
Aging
14 months in 100% French oak, 60% new
Appearance
The 2010 Arrendell Vineyard Pinot Noir is a deep, ruby-coloured wine.
