92 Points, Wine Spectator / 93 Points, California Grapevine
"This offers a seductively ripe and spicy aroma, with juicy flavors of raspberry tart and baked cherry pastry. Very toasty on the well-spiced finish, which lengthens out with hints of strawberry and rhubarb compote. Drink now through 2025." - Kim Marcus, Wine Spectator
"Medium-light to medium ruby color; attractive, deep, fragrant, dark cherry fruit aroma with hints of forest floor, baking spice, and rose petal; medium to medium-full body; seductive, rich, fleshy, elegantly styled, cherry fruit flavors with bright acidity, light spicy notes, and some plushness in the velvety mouthfeel; medium tannin; lingering aftertaste. Very enjoyable to drink now, though also shows good bottle aging potential. Very highly recommended." - California Grapevine
Our flagship black-labeled Reserve from the 2017 vintage continues our string of successes with Pinot Noir here in the historic Santa Clara Valley appellation.
We gently destemmed the whole berries into small fermentors, cold soaked for three days, allowed a robust native fermentation, then inoculated with RC212 yeast. Hand punch downs occurred three times daily. The wine was pressed off the skins and fermentation was completed in barrel. The cooperage used was Francois Freres and Vallaurine, 33% being new oak with the balance in one and two year old barrels; barrel maturation proceeded for 18 months. The wine was bottled and hand-waxed in March of 2019. Only 119 cases were produced. Our 2017 Reserve Pinot Noir was allowed a over a year of bottle age prior to release to our Reserve Circle members.
Clones: Dijon 777, Dijon 667
Appellation: Santa Clara Valley
Vineyard: Sarah's Estate Dwarf Oak
Grower: Tim Slater
