2019 Pinot Noir, Rio Vista Vineyard Dijon

Awards

Wine Enthusiast - 91 points

"Strong herbal aromas of incense, bay leaf and patchouli meet with smashed red plum on the nose."

--Matt Kettman

Food Pairing

Pair with pork, skirt steak, lamb, turkey, butternut squash lasagna with sage. Mocha opera cake will bring down the house.

Production Notes

Pinot Noir Clones 667, 777, & 115; 278 cases produced

Tasting Notes

Medium garnet in color, the aromatics of this wine are reminiscent of being entangled in blueberry vines and raspberry briars. Visualize an hedonistic experience relaxing on a Roman divan while being fed grapes, one at a time. The palate is quite elegant upon release and will continue evolving as it ages, just like a tender young sapling that matures into a majestic oak. 

Vineyard Notes

Three different blocks and three different clones comprise Rio Vista Vineyard. This meticulously farmed vineyard sweeps down the hillside on the southeastern edge of the Sta. Rita Hills AVA, overlooking the Santa Ynez River – hence its name, “River View”. The grapes for our wine hail from the steep, eastern hillside of the vineyard, with soils laden with rocks and chert. Our Dijon blend is made up of clones 115, 667 and 777. 

Winemaker Notes

After hand harvesting, the perfect little clusters were gently de-stemmed and the whole berries placed into fermenters. After inoculation with yeast, the “must” slurry of juice and skins was punched down by hand twice each day to extract flavor, color and tannins. Upon completion of fermentation, the wine was placed into French oak barrels and allowed to age for about 18 months. After a light filtration to ensure clarity and remove any unwanted sediment, the wine was bottled and stored. This bottle aging allowed the tannins, acids and flavors to meld and integrate, providing a wine that is enjoyable upon release. Each of these “dijonaise” clones contributes a component and enhances the others in this blend.