Single Vineyard Pinot Noir from Northern Spy Vineyard
Made in the Heart of the Russian River Valley
Northern Spy Vineyard
This offering hails from our vineyard just outside the town of Graton, in the Green Valley area of the Russian River Valley. Acquired as an abandoned apple orchard, we had the opportunity to develop the area into our Northern Spy Vineyard. The wine from this cooler growing region rounds out our Pinot Noir blend with intricately layered dark fruits and mineral, while also giving it persistence and volume.
Appellation: Russian River Valley
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Harvest Dates: September 16 and 30, 2017
Fermentation: 3, 4 and 6-ton open top tanks, 10% whole cluster
Aging: 14 months in French oak barrels
Winemaker: Andrew Delos
Director of Winemaking: Dirk Hampson
Release Date: November 2019
First Vintage: 2013
Northern Spy Vineyard’s 17.5 acres of double-Guyot-trained vines are rooted in the region’s famous Goldridge sandy loam soils, comprised of weathered sandstone and granite, with a fine, almost powder-like topsoil. Located in the Green Valley area of the southwest corner of the Russian River Valley, this vineyard enjoys very cool nights and mornings. Fog typically covers the vineyard from 6:00 pm until about 11:00 am during the summer months. Daytime temperatures typically hover in the low-to-mid-80s, encouraging vines that have intensely concentrated, small berries. The cool temperatures and less direct sunlight lead to vines that are harvested up to one month later than the much warmer Amber Ridge Vineyard.
The growing season of 2017 was a bit of a roller coaster ride with more extreme weather than usual. Adequate rainfall filled the soils, allowing for normal budbreak and good vine growth. A small hailstorm in June caused a slight concern of decreasing crop size, but we were very fortunate to have minimal damage. Mature berry tannins and vibrant red-and black fruit flavors with perfect sugars were present by the third week of August, with picking beginning shortly after.
Greeting the senses with aromas of cedar, vanilla and other confectionery notes, our 2017 Northern Spy Pinot Noir is utterly alluring from the first swirl of the glass. On the palate, flavors of herbes de Provence and rich blue fruits coat the tongue while being supported by bright, balanced acidity and minerality. A concentration of flavor on the mid-palate will allow this wine to age gracefully for years to come.
