This wine is lovely! It is our second release from our grower, Art Ibleto - the Pasta King! We love the quality that this vineyard produces - very fruity, bright cherry-candy! The region is cooler than MOST of inland Sonoma County, and slows down the maturation of the Pinot Noir into October, even when most Russian River Pinots are picked in September. This additional hang time on the vine developes very refined tannins, flavors, aromas and mouthfeel and creates a pinot that will last for many years. The Pinot Noirs that come from the Sonoma Coast are power houses and this wine will show you why! Rich, dense, bright and fruity!

Only 250 cases produced.

Tasting Notes: Rich, dense, bright and fruity, cherry candy, dried herbs, forest floor, violets, soft bright tannins.

About the Winemaker

Our Winemaker, Nancy Walker, has had the luxury of working as a winemaker in California for the past 22 years. Based in Mendocino County, Nancy has traveled throughout the region visiting growers from Temecula to Portland and from the Shenandoah Valley of the Sierra Nevada Mountains to Albuquerque, New Mexico. Through her travels, Nancy has developed an appreciation for the regional and local differences that each unique vineyard produces and with this, she is able to tend to our vineyards with our small growers throughout the state, to produce wines of concentration and distinction.

Nancy is a graduate of the University of California at Davis, renowned for winemaking education. Her winemaking career began in 1984, as a cellar worker at McDowell Valley Vineyards. From there, she honed her skills at many local wineries starting with Geyser Peak (1984-1985) as Wine Chemist and QC Technician. From there it was on to Dunnewood (1985-1990), where she was the Assistant Winemaker for 5 years before moving on to Assistant Winemaker at Clos du Bois (1991). Nancy was then responsible for the set up and operation of the small family winery at Brutocao Cellars (1991-1998).

Nancy was then searching for diverse production and vineyard opportunities, and accepted a position at Fetzer Vineyards in Hopland (1998-2005). She then moved on to Winery Exchange (2005-current), an international beverage company, where she is responsible for the winemaking portfolio of Washington, Oregon and California.

Nancy manages has her own wine consulting business where she advises small, micro-lot wine brands of ultra-premium wines.

Technical Analysis:

Vintage
2010
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Sonoma Coast
Harvest Date
October 15, 2010
Sugar
25.6 Brix at Harvest
Acid
0.78 g/100ml
PH
3.33
Aging
9 months in 40% new French Oak Barrels
Fermentation
14 days; 5 days cold soak
Bottling Date
August 1, 2011
Residual Sugar
0.05%
Tannin
soft, lovely!
Alcohol
14.5%