Nose
This Pinot Noir opens with aromas of ripe strawberry, blackberries, black cherry, and rhubarb with cedar notes and a hint of mint.
Palate
With its fruit forward, viscous palate, this wine showcases a soft entry and soft supple tannins, delivering flavors of Amarena cherries, strawberry jam, mocha, and molasses. This well balanced wine is complex, yet food friendly.
Growing Conditions
The grapes for our 2017 Reserve Collection Pinot Noir came from the Moretti and Mueller vineyards in Carneros. Mueller Vineyard, nestled at the southern end of the appellation near the Sonoma border, is a flat vineyard with characteristics typical of the region: thin clay soils, frequent wind and significant cloud cover. Moretti Vineyard is on a mild slope with clay-loam soils. Both sites provide ideal conditions for a deliberate and controlled ripening period for Pinot Noir fruit, creating balanced, structured wines with intensity and complexity.
Harvest
The 2017 growing season offered superlative growing conditions with abundant rain at the beginning of the year. Harvest brought lower yields with fruit of excellent quality.
Aging
This Pinot Noir underwent a 7–12 day maceration period and was aged for 15 months in 33% new French oak.
Food Pairing
Pairs well with grilled salmon with mushroom conserva and parsley puree.