Fall Release Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir
2008

Winemaker’s Notes

This second offering from our Estate Vineyard offers plenty of earthy complexity, along with a sense of building richness as the wine opens in the glass. We opted to utilize 20% whole clusters in our Estate fermentations this year to maximize freshness and vibrancy in the face of such intense harvest heat. The small vines at our east-facing hillside vineyard went unirrigated throughout the growing season and were therefore early to ripen with full maturity. The wine beautifully expresses the overriding vintage character of bright crunchy red fruits with elevated savory notes rather than the dark fruited nature of later harvest vintages, such as 2002 or 2007. In this respect, it’s more akin to the 2001 set of wines, which have aged particularly well. At bottling the wine was a little tight and reserved, but I would expect that it will develop with time in bottle to reveal intense complexity and nuanced richness. Because of this, I would hold off trying your allocation for an extra year after release to allow it time to unfold in bottle. What’s becoming clear with this new vintage and also the 2009 in barrel is that our Estate Vineyard naturally wants to produce wines that lead with vibrant earthy complexity and structure in contrast to the more fruit-driven textured style of ryan or finn, for example. This is most likely due to the high density planting of the site, in addition to the heritage clones we have selected which, tend to elevate this style. Whatever the case, we look forward eagerly to exploring the vineyard’s nuances as the vines age and feel confident that many of our finest wines will emerge from this great site.

Clear bright garnet red; multi layered aromas of cranberry and dried flowers becoming red and black cherry with a slight grassy black tea element. Crunchy red fruits dominate the palate entry with red apple skin notes that deepen to typical Green Valley raspberry and cola flavors. Youthful structure becomes suppler with aeration. Tea leaf and baking spice notes on the fresh savory finish. Will soften and broaden with age with a drinking window of 2012 through 2018.

Andy Smith Viticulturist, Winemaker & Partner