Nose
Complex and aromatic with a balanced mix of ripe black cherry and cranberry fruit, a little exotic sassafras spice, savory leather, camphor, and rose petal notes.
Palate
The moderately full palate begins with ripe dark fruit and sweet spice balanced with savory leather and mineral components on the midpalate and firm, chewy tannins on the long, balanced and complex finish with lingering cherry candy notes.
Growing Conditions
Sitting at an elevation of 110 feet atop a lone knoll with an eastern exposure, this vineyard enjoys added warmth and sunlight, making it our first Pinot fruit to arrive at the winery on August 20, 2015, and allowing greater fullness and balance in this wine than other Pinot Noirs from the region.
Bottling
Bottled without fining. Bottling date: August 2016.
Winemaking
Upon arrival at the winery, the fruit was destemmed and placed into four-ton fermenters, with about 10% whole clusters added back and cold-soaked for five days before the native yeast fermentation began. During maceration, the tanks were punched down twice daily by hand. Upon reaching dryness, the must was pressed and placed in a combination of François Frères Tronçais and Remond Allier (French oak) barrels.
Aging
François Frères Tronçais and Remond Allier (French oak) barrels (35% new) for ten months sur-lie.
Food Pairing
Try it with roasted leg of lamb rubbed with herbs like thyme, or Herbs de Provence with garlic. It would also be great with freshly made wood fired pizzas topped with a little cheese, grilled eggplant, or mushroom, with a few dots of black olive tapenade.
