Latest Release

2024 Road 31 Pinot Noir Carneros Napa Valley

“Here is a local Napa Valley Pinot Noir that makes a statement…This wine delivers its characteristic Pinot Noir nose, but carries an inimitable easy body…this Pinot ranks with many of the finest from Burgundy and Oregon…true Pinot lovers will go gaga over this wine.”

--Bob Ecker, Gayot Travel Guides

Vineyard: Three blocks across two vineyards contributed to this wine. Both vineyards are in the Napa half of Carneros and enjoy commanding views of the mouth of the Napa River where it spills into the San Pablo/San Francisco Bay. Very cool sites indeed. Stanly Ranch Vineyard is a set of sandy rolling hills, from which comes the prettiness of clone 115 and power of clone 667. Huichica Ranch lies one mile to the west, on a very steep and rocky hillside, providing the elegance and color of the Pommard clone.

Vintage: After a wet, replenishing winter, the 2024 season began with healthy soils and strong early growth. Summer brought more heat than we’ve seen in recent years, but Carneros’ cool nights and bay breezes kept these southern-Napa vines balanced and fruit fresh. Harvest returned to a more classic early-September pace (vs the late harvest dates of 2023), with smaller, concentrated Pinot clusters and vibrant flavor and fantastic natural acidity. Darn strong vintage. 

Winecrafting: A three-day cold soak preceded 14 days in the fermenter. Fermentations were clean and smooth. Run to barrel before the finish of fermentation, the wine sat on its gross lees (without oxygen nor racking) for the entire year of aging, which adds a creamy texture and significant weight to an already substantial wine. A mixture of Tokaji (Hungarian) and Mercurey (French) oak contributes a nice blend of spice (particularly nutmeg) and vanilla to the profile.

Wine: This is classic, old-school movie star — a Robert Redford red, if you will. All the hallmarks of great vino, but with its own signature twist. It’s an intense shade of dark red, with flashes of deep purple depending on how the light hits it. The nose is classic Road 31 Pinot Noir: dark, brooding fruit — blueberry and blackberry — with a fun hint of cherry cola. Yet it also carries an elegant, high-toned aromatic of fine dark chocolate. The mouth has both depth and liveliness, weight and acidity, along with a spicy character; it can play both roles: seriousness (dinner table) and comedy (hot tub). Super long finish, slightly hot (just hot enough), with an echo of all those fruits from the aroma plus a seductive vanilla note. I’m super proud of this classic-style wine that carries a hint of the exotic; a wine that says “aw shucks” while burning bright in designer clothes under the spotlight. 

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