Winemaker Notes
The 2018 Cougar Rock Vineyard Pinot Noir exudes aromas of ripe cherry, red apple and hints of graphite and dried fennel. Cougar Rock is always our most smooth and silky Pinot and most delicate in color which we attribute to the large amount of calcarious chalky rocks that are interspersed throughout the block. The mineral tones from the volcanic soil are apparent, intertwined with a dusty earthiness, rose petals; balanced by a fresh vibrant core and smooth elegant tannins. This wine shines in its youth and is expected to continue to improve for the next 8-15 years.
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
This is a fruity red with plum and strawberry character. Medium-bodied, round and fruity.
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.”
Just northeast of Napa city, Atlas Peak boasts some of Napa Valley’s highest elevation vineyards. Here the intense sunlight coupled with cool, nighttime temperatures produce grapes that are perfectly ripe, balanced and concentrated. The appellation is rich in volcanic soils and excels in the production of Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot.