Winemaker Notes
This wine is deep garnet in color and has a brilliant clarity. The fruits aromas, are distinctly of violets along with some blackberry, allspice and vanilla notes. On the palate, the same dark fruits mingle with flavors of pomegranate and mocha. Soft acidity allows the fruit characters to shine through, while the soft tannins linger on the palate.
Versatility with food is a hallmark of all of their wines. Enjoy this 2017 Estate Pinot Noir with a variety of poultry, beef, pork and game, as well as vegetables, cheeses, olives and savory dishes.
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.”
With boundaries overlapping the Sonoma Coast AVA and Sonoma Mountain AVA, Bennett Valley benefits from the cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean just like its neighbors. Top grapes planted include Barbera, Pinot noir and Chardonnay, as well as Bordeaux and Rhone varieties.