91 points, Wine & Spirits
Spicy aromas of white pepper and cardamom greet the nose in this 2017 Pinot Noir from the Pennacchio Vineyard. Bold and rich fruit flavors of rhubarb, pomegranate, dark cherry and orange peel are complemented by accents of black tea. This is a finely textured wine with balanced acidity and a freshness on the finish with lingering berry notes.
The Pennacchio Vineyard is located in the cool southwestern reaches of the Sebastopol hills. The vineyard is on an easterly facing slope beneath coastal ridges that protect it from the oceans cooling fog. The vineyard is planted with a single Pinot Noir selection - Clone 115 - on Saint George root- stock. This unusual pairing of clone and rootstock contributes to a more robust growth, delayed ripening and larger clusters. The fruit from this vineyard is the very definition of our focus on terroir.
Hand-picked at optimal ripeness between September 8 - 15, the berries were de-stemmed and punched down by hand in wooden vats. Basket pressed directly to barrel, the wine finished its fermentation upon its lees before being racked and aged for 14 months in 100% French oak, 40% new.
Spicy aromas of white pepper and cardamom greet the nose in this 2017 Pinot Noir from the Pennacchio Vineyard. Bold and rich fruit flavors of rhubarb, pomegranate, dark cherry and orange peel are complemented by accents of black tea. This is a finely textured wine with balanced acidity and a freshness on the finish with lingering berry notes.