AROMAS & FLAVORS
The 2021 Rancho Santa Rosa Pinot Noir embodies the essence of the cool climate St. Rita Hills. This wine opens with aromas of ripe fruit, dark boysenberry, and ribbons of red and black fruit. On the palate this Pinot Noir offers classic notes of black pepper, boysenberry, plum, and dark cherry with a soft finish of dark cacao and pomegranate. The wine has moderate tannins, balanced acidity, and lush fruit on the finish.
VINEYARDS & WINEMAKING
The fruit for this wine was 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 4 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. The Pinot Noir was aged for 10 months in French oak barrels, 20% new.
VINTAGE
The 2021 vintage was marked by a cooler and longer growing season, which provided fruit of wonderful concentration. The moderate weather throughout the year in the Sta. Rita Hills provided incredible fruit quality and balanced acid levels. Harvest was completed on October 23, 2021.
