92 points, Wine Advocate
Our 2017 Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir spotlights a unique high elevation vineyard. It was grown and harvested on Muns Vineyard, high atop Loma Prieta in the S.C.M. Located literally on the San Andreas Fault on a ridge at 2,600 feet of elevation, the property is planted to the three main 'Dijon' Pinot Noir clones on primarily clay loam and sandstone soils. It is a unique site that supplies exceptional Pinot Noir fruit. It is a unique site that supplies exceptional fruit.
11 months French Oak (33% New), 455 cases
Flowers, fruit, and herbs – our 2017 Sarah’s Vineyard Santa Cruz Mountains Pinot Noir is a fragrant garden in a glass. Distinct notes of perfumed rose and violets accent the ripe cherry and berry aromas and flavors. Running seamlessly through the wine is a bright streak of balancing, cold climate acidity. A light touch of vanillin-oak and mid-weight tannins give structure and a long finish. Drinking well already, the ’17 S.V. SCM PN from Muns Vineyard will reward a few years of patient cellaring. It should prove a perfect pairing with a wide variety of foods - think roast salmon or herbed chicken or a filet mignon wrapped in bacon.
Yields for 2017 were on the light side but the Pinot Noir arriving at the winery from Muns in early September was of exceptional quality, with ripe, focused flavors and acids. After a cold soak, fermentation began using yeast RC212 in small, open top bins. Manual punchdowns of the cap occurred three times daily prior to the wine being pressed and “barreled down” for eleven months aging in small French oak cooperage, thirty-three percent of which was new wood.
Clones: 'Dijon' clones 115, 667, 777
Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard: Muns Vineyard
Grower: Ed Muns
Harvest Date: September 2017
Alcohol: 14.2
Cooperage: French oak, 33% new, 11 months
Bottling Date: August 2018
Production: 455
