Product Overview
Winery’s Notes“The fruit was hand harvested between September 26th and October 25th, 2019. After a 5 to 7 day cold soak, the grapes underwent traditional vinification methods including foot crushing, whole cluster fermentation with native yeast, malolactic fermentation on lees and gravity transfer (no pumping). The wine was aged in François Frères barrels (Bertrange Forest) for 17 months and bottled unfiltered.”
Winemaker’s Notes“Nose: Very fragrant and fine, with a range of very distinctive and appealing aromas (raspberry, plum, cherry, rose petal, vanilla, toast, spicy oak, white pepper, black tea).
Palate: Supple and full-bodied with surprising richness, excellent depth and flavor (similar to nose), good balance, and a very long, toasty finish.
Summary: Outstanding; one of the best vintages yet. It displays terrific fruit flavor and intensity, wonderful balance, and very positive length. Now hitting its stride; a wonderful wine likely to drink beautifully through 2028. Very high quality for an Estates blend!”
Varietal Composition: 100% Pinot Noir Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains AVAVineyards: Santa Cruz Mountain Estates Vineyard, Domaine Valeta VineyardAging: 17 months in French oak (Francois Frères), 80% newProduction: 1,026 casesWinemaker: Valeta Rodgers
94 Points – Wine Enthusiast“Savory aromas of squid ink, crushed morel mushroom, blood and earth meet with cherry extract and pine needle on the wildly complex nose of this bottling. That meaty depth extends across the palate, where leather, dried mushroom, cherry and amaro-like flavors align.” -MK, 10/1/25
