The 2012 Pinot Noir exhibits saturated dense ruby/purple-tinged color with bright red raspberry fruits, typical of the Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley Pinot Noirs. Hints of savory herbal notes are layered with rich, glorious levels of black cherries, raspberries, cassis, and blackberries in the mid-palate to give the wine an unmatched complexity. The finish then dives deeper, bringing out hints of anise and sweet tannins that linger into the finish, where a hint of black Asian spice lingers, once the fruit dissipates, into a long 30 second finish. This elegant, but bold, Pinot Noir stays true to its varietal and is best paired with duck, pheasant, lamb, and other light gamey dishes.

2012 was a very balanced year for our hillside-grown Pinot Noir grapes. This year, we added two new vineyards, one near Los Carneros and another from the famed Gold Ridge in Russian River Valley. Across the board, the clusters were full and balanced with a moderate berry size. Due to the temperate growing season, the fruit exhibited much lighter and brighter fruit than normal, which is typical of many varietals in the 2012 vintage. The grapes matured nicely with a long hang-time and were harvested in mid-October at optimal ripeness.