*6 BOTTLE MAXIMUM
AROMA
raspberry pastille, violet, cigar box
FLAVOR
wild blackberry, Mission fig, black tea
FOOD PAIRINGS
wild mushroom pizza, sweet Italian sausages
Tucked in between the first and second ridge, this neighborhood has established itself as the premier locale for high intensity Pinot Noir. There are a number of aspects to this former apple ranch. We selected a block along the spine of the property with an East/West row orientation and true North facing aspect. Even in colder sites, climate change is now driving the conversation and changing the calculus. Ten years ago we would have been seeking South facing aspects on the true coast to maximize sunlight exposure. Now, we want to get our fruit out of the afternoon sun to prevent sun damage and preserve acidity. The Pacific Ocean acts like a reliable air conditioning system, so what we end up getting from these prized true coast sites is Pinot Noir that gets slowly ripened in cool sunlight via the process of photosynthesis. This is in stark contrast to the wines grown in warmer zones (like the RRV) where the heat is driving sugars and forcing earlier and earlier harvest dates (with less developed flavors in the wines).
