Tasting Notes: This Pinot Noir displays its coastal nature beautifully, with a sea spray freshness and savory profile that is classically Manchester Ridge Vineyard. It takes us to both the forest and the tide pools, with a lovely earthiness and a saline note that we often find and love from this vineyard. Bright and red fruited, it has delicious layers of pomegranate, orange peel, and spice. Mouthwatering and elegant, this Pinot Noir highlights the compelling duality of fruitiness and savoriness of this site and just begs another sip.
Vineyard: Manchester Ridge Vineyard - Mendocino Ridge AVA, Mendocino
Perched on a ridgetop at 2,000 ft. in elevation and just 3.5 miles from the Pacific Ocean sits the stunning Manchester Ridge Vineyard. Standing at the edge of the site, with the vineyard behind you and the sea ahead, you can actually hear the waves rolling in and out down at the beach in the town of Manchester. Despite the close proximity to the coast, there is enough sun to ripen the grapes because the vineyard lies above the fog line. Yielding small clusters of approximately 2 tons per acre, this dry-farmed vineyard produces grapes with intense flavor and excellent natural acidity.
Winemaking: Native yeast. 35% whole-cluster fermentation in small, open-top fermenters. Aged in neutral French oak barrels for 11 months with early lees stirring.
Vintage: Following a wet winter, the late budbreak of 2023 led to a long, cool, and dry growing season with good yields and extended hangtime, allowing us to pick precisely when we wanted. Leading to wines of balance and full flavors at lower sugars and restrained alcohol, 2023 is marked as a superior vintage of excellent quality.
Technical Details:
Composition: 100% Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Manchester Ridge
Appellation: Mendocino Ridge
Clone: 115
pH: 3.8
TA: 5.7 g/L
Brix at harvest: 22.8
Alcohol: 13.8%
98 cases produced
