AROMAS & FLAVORS
This Pinot Noir embodies the essence of the cool climate Sta. Rita Hills. The 2018 opens with aromas of ripe fruit, dark boysenberry, pomegranate and ribbons of cherry, while classic notes of black pepper, boysenberry, plum, dark cherry with a soft finish of dark cacao and pomegranate acidity complete this wine. The 2018 boasts moderate tannins, balanced acidity and lush fruit on the finish.
VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING
The fruit for this wine was hand harvested and sorted in the vineyard prior to arrival at the winery. The clusters were then carefully destemmed to keep the berries intact. Additional hand sorting removed any jack stems before the fruit was transferred to small, stainless steel, open-top fermenters. The juice and skins were cold–soaked for four days prior to fermentation and then gently punched down for several days. After primary fermentation was complete, the new wine was drained and the skins were gently pressed.
VINTAGE
The 2018 vintage kicked off with an extremely unusual heat spike in February that sent the vines into a rapid, early start but was quickly followed by a cold spell. Frost events had longer duration than prior years and the season continued its cold to moderate temperature pattern through May. The first pop of real heat finally arrived mid-June, and temperatures remained moderate the rest of the growing season, allowing the grapes to gradually ripen. We started picking 3 weeks later than typical but the rich flavor profiles were worth the wait.
