Winemaker Notes
In 2018 this wine commands attention for its marvelously complex, expressive character. So floral at first and then spice and dark fruits with the sites petrichor scents and flavors developing after opening the bottle. The length and depth of flavor, along with its longevity define Comptche as well, and speak to this sites greatness. Drink over the next 15 years.
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Medium ruby-purple, the 2018 Pinot Noir Comptche Ridge opens with leather, bay leaves, fir, turned earth and garrigue with a core of fresh black fruits. The medium-bodied palate is concentrated with its earthy character accented by floral notes. It's refreshed by juicy acidity and finishes long and nuanced
Thin-skinned, finicky and temperamental, Pinot Noir is also one of the most rewarding grapes to grow and remains a labor of love for some of the greatest vignerons in Burgundy. Fairly adaptable but highly reflective of the environment in which it is grown, Pinot Noir prefers a cool climate and requires low yields to achieve high quality. Outside of France, outstanding examples come from in Oregon, California and throughout specific locations in wine-producing world. Somm Secret—André Tchelistcheff, California’s most influential post-Prohibition winemaker decidedly stayed away from the grape, claiming “God made Cabernet. The Devil made Pinot Noir.”
A large and diverse appellation within California’s North Coast AVA, Mendocino is home to several smaller sub-regions—most notably the Anderson Valley. This scenic region, with rolling hills covered in redwood forests as well as vineyards, is one of the world’s top producers of certified organically-grown grapes. Due to wide geographical and climatic variation, a vast array of wine styles can be found here.