For The Love of Pinot

2019 Sea Floored

Appellation: Sta. Rita Hills
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Clones: 667, 777, Pommard and 459
TA: 5.1 g/L | pH: 3.52 | Alcohol: 14.4%

VINEYARDS
Fruit was sourced exclusively from our two estate vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, each sited to benefit from the cooling influence of the Pacific Ocean. The Rancho Santa Rosa vineyard is planted on steep, south-facing slopes in limestone soils. Rancho Las Hermanas is the westernmost property in the AVA, with vines growing in over six different soil types, all of ancient marine origin.

VINTAGE
An extended cool growing season in 2019 set us up for a later start to harvest, but some intense Labor Day heat pushed the vines to maturation, allowing us to pick the fruit the first two weeks of September.  Patience was a virtue during Mother Nature’s weather roller coaster ride, but the disease pressure was low and the quality was good, with nuance and diversity of fruit expression. 

RATINGS

94 Points - Wine Enthusiast 
"This special bottling from the Foley family packs a lot of complexity into the nose, offering aromas of bay leaf, toasted wood, light cannabis and brisk pomegranate. The palate is firm in texture and covers a wide range of fruit, from dark berry to bright red fruit, though it may be the graphite-like minerality that sets it apart." —M.K.

2021 High Haven

Appellation: Anderson Valley
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Clones: 777 and Swan
Aged for 10 months in 38% new French oak; Tremeaux M+,
Rousseau ML and Francois Freres M+ barrels
TA: 5.5 g/L | pH: 3.64 | Alcohol: 14.9%

VINTAGE
Receiving only 60% of the average annual rainfall, drought conditions in Mendocino county worsened in 2021, with most of the annual precipitation landing in October and December of 2020, followed by an unusually rainy April in 2021. Spring temperatures were cooler, with bud break occurring one week later than average. Summer temperatures were above average with less nightly fog and cloud cover. With minimal irrigation, the grapes were ready for harvesting toward the end of September, near the average pick date for the Middleridge ranch.

VINEYARDS
To capture a full expression of Anderson Valley, we sourced fruit from Middleridge Ranch that sits between two ridges above the town of Booneville. This vineyard is located at 1,100 feet, where open hills and warm winds develop ripe, fruit-driven flavors. Fruit was hand-picked September 21-22, 2021.

TASTING NOTES
High Haven opens with aromas of black Mission figs, raspberry bramble, fresh-tapped Maple tree sap and vanilla bean accents. This medium-bodied wine is bright and lush with harmonious flavors of rose hips, dried cranberries, cola and graham cracker laced with lively acidity and integrated tannins which lead to a structured finish.

2021 Funky Jory

Appellation: Dundee Hills
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Clones: 115, Wadenswil and Pommard
Aged for 16 months in French oak barrels (20% new);
Sylvain, Rousseau & Ermitage barrels
TA: 5.0 g/L | pH: 3.65 | Alcohol: 14.5%

VINTAGE
The 2021 vintage will be remembered in the Willamette Valley for record setting heat and dry conditions. Mild rain during bloom reduced the yields to slightly below average, but the precipitation helped our vines tolerate the unusually hot and dry summer. Harvest began a few weeks earlier than average, with our first Pinot Noir coming from the Dundee Hills AVA

VINEYARDS
All the fruit for this wine comes from our estate vineyard in the Dundee Hills where our vines grow in - not surprisingly - red Jory soils. Rich in nutrients and high in clay content, this basalt-based volcanic soil produces Pinot Noirs with high acidity, softer tannings, and a red- fruit flavor profile.

TASTING NOTES
This wine opens with complex aromatics of black cherry, mulberry, sandalwood and a touch of baking spice from the sparing use of new French oak barrels. The finish is silky and long, typical of Dundee Hills Pinot Noir.

2021 The Cusp

Appellation: Russian River Valley
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Clones: Mt. Eden 37, Pommard 4, Swan 97, & 777
Aged for 17 months in 33% new French oak barrels Francois Freres, Marsannay, D&J and Tremeaux
TA: 5.57 g/L | pH: 3.58 | Alcohol: 14.4%

VINTAGE
The 2021 growing season was drier than normal and received very little rain. The summer was mild which allowed for the fruit to hang a bit longer than usual. The vineyards and fruit load were managed according to how much water was available for each individual vineyard. There were a few hot spells in the early fall where some of the younger vineyards and vineyards with low water supply felt the effects. Overall, the 2021 growing season provided lower yields with good structure and well-balanced flavors.

VINEYARDS
Our Trenton Road Vineyard is located in the Russian River Valley AVA of Sonoma County, and ideally situated to benefit from morning fog and afternoon sunshine. From the vineyard’s 45 acres, we selected fruit from eight blocks: Old Barn, Lions Ridge East, Richard’s Ridge North, Pasta Boys Hill, Richard’s Crown, Richard’s Ridge South, and Lawn & Roller Coaster East. The grapes were hand-picked September 4-9, 2021.

TASTING NOTES
Aromas of dried cherries, rose and magnolia are interwoven with light vanilla coffee and hints of pine needle and resin. Juicy concentrated strawberry and cherry compote flavors on the front palate are balanced by a weightier yet elegant mid-palate. Hints of vanilla bean pannacotta leads to a lingering, mouthwatering finish with bright coastal acidity.

RATINGS (v 2018)

90 Points - Wine Spectator
“Fresh cherry and dried raspberry flavors show a lot of cedar spice accents in this red, with a firm, minerally finish that has plenty of toasty notes. Drink now through 2023. 1,000 cases made.”—K.M.