2020 RESERVE Pinot Noir, 750ml
Tasting notes
2020 Reserve Pinot Noir from the Olivet Road in the Russian River Valley, Sonoma County. This wine is made from 100% free run juice and has been aged for 18 months in 50% new French oak barrels, resulting in a wine that is rich and complex.
Fermented with 30% whole cluster, this wine offers a unique flavor profile that is sure to impress. On the nose, notes of black cherry, dried rose petals, and light spice mix with toasty oak aromas to create a symphony of scents.
On the palate, this wine is full and round with red berry fruits, including raspberry, cherry, and strawberry, that come together with hints of vanilla bean and wood spices on the finish. The excellent weight and balanced acidity give a wonderful shape to the wine, making it an ideal pairing for a range of dishes.
While the wine is delicious now, it will continue to age and develop even more secondary aromas and flavors over the next few years. So, whether you're enjoying it now or saving it for later, our 2020 Reserve Pinot Noir is a wine that is sure to impress.
Harvest Notes
The 2020 growing season started out very dry with 60% of average rainfall. Dry winters usually bring early bud break, but the nights were colder than average and bud break was delayed. Early spring rains recharged the soil profile, but periods of extreme cold caused many frost events throughout the Russian River Valley. In some areas, frost was an issue and had the effect of lowering the crop.
Bloom weather was overall very good, but was interspersed with a few cool periods with scattered showers which created a “hens and chicks” cluster morphology. Late spring yielded ample sunshine and moderate temperatures, and the plants responded very well with excellent canopy growth. Slightly looser clusters and excellent viticulture timing set the stage for good exposure of fruit for color and tannin development.
The consequent wines for 2020 have deep color and very refined tannin owing to the early season sunshine. The season ended up approximately 12% warmer than average, and did not have any heat spikes until August. Shoots and stems were well lignified, and seeds were brown—these are all indicators of maturity.
On the night of August 16, the weather changed and there was a rare dry lightning storm that sparked a fire on a hillside in remote west Sonoma County. This fire would later be named the Walbridge Fire.
In the Russian River Valley, it took a number of days for smoke to settle along with that were concerns of smoke taint. Based on test results for smoke taint on the grapes, several vineyards were not picked due to the threat of tainted wine. These vineyards were in Dry Creek Valley. For the vineyards that were picked before the smoke settled, the result was concentrated wines with a darker, more brooding complexion. The polish of the tannin, coupled with excellent concentration, should allow for a wide drinking window.
