Winemaker Notes
Wonderful breadth, depth, and personality in spades. Afleet incorporates four distinct blocks from the vineyard and incorporates 60% whole cluster fermentation to craft a wine with a variety of aromatics. Mandarin, stargazer lily, guava and saffron aromas mingle and develop over time. Stem tannin circles the outer edges on the texture and leaves the mid-palate fresh and juicy.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The deep ruby 2020 Pinot Noir Afleet Estate Vineyard is spicy with dark cherry, dark earth, and pine. Full-bodied, it packs gripping structure in its notes of forest herbs, iron-rich minerals, red plum, and tea leaves and has a meaty texture. It’s an outstanding wine that should offer great longevity. Drink 2025-2035.
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Wine Enthusiast
Give this guy a bit of time to open up—he's shy. About 20 minutes to read the room should suffice, and then he'll be talking all about the fresh red cherry, red currant, tarragon and basil mashed onto the redwood forest floor. He'll stand tall on integrated tannins, refreshed by modest acidity. A balanced, medium level of alcohol means he'll be great sipping all night long.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
It has a medium garnet color and broody aromas of wild berries, mushrooms, mossy bark and tobacco. The light-bodied palate is chalky and vibrant with pleasantly restrained flavors and an earth-laced finish.
Anderson Valley, located in Mendocino County just above Sonoma County, is one of California’s coolest AVAs, allowing it a long growing season. Only 15 miles long, the region makes a slice eastward through the mountains, from the frigid Pacific Ocean. Dramatic diurnal temperature variations here preserve grape acidity and thus freshness in the finished wines. These are prime conditions for growing Pinot Noir, and the valley produces many fine versions. Characteristics of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir typically include crisp acidity, cranberry and strawberry notes as well as earthy notes of forest floor and mushroom.
Still Pinot Noir, however, is only part of the story. Pinot Noir, along with Chardonnay, are also grown for Anderson Valley’s exceptional sparkling wines. Produced via the traditional method, these offer a classic toasty note from lees aging, bright, complex fruit notes and a clean, refreshing character.