AROMAS & FLAVORS
This beautiful representation of Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir opens with aromas of juicy boysenberry fruit laced with ribbons of blackberry jam and a hint of black pepper. Balanced acidity and moderate tannin support the sumptuous dark cherry and olallieberry flavors, finishing with notes of oak.
WINEMAKING
We harvest the grapes based on the ripeness of the tannins. For Pinot Noir this usually occurs around 23.5 – 25 brix. The clusters were gently destemmed with no crushing, then the must was cold soaked in open-top fermenters for 4 days. Each tank was manually punched down throughout fermentation. Upon completion of primary fermentation, the free run and pressed wine were transferred to tanks for settling. Finally, the individual lots were racked to barrels and aged for 18 months in 30% new French oak prior to blending and bottling.
VINTAGE
The prominent event of vintage 2022 was an unprecedented heat wave that occurred September 1 – 8, with temperatures reaching 106 degrees. Industry wide, we have referred to this anomaly as the “heat dome.” As harvest progressed, we experienced a bit of rain, lightning, and humidity pressure from Hurricane Kay mid-September. Mother Nature dealt us a surprising number of challenging weather circumstances, but overall 2022 delivered beautifully balanced, light-bodied wines.
