Current Release

2018 Road 31 Pinot Noir 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: Four plots across two vineyards contributed to this wine. From the Green Island, at the southern mouth of the Napa River, where the water spills into the San Pablo/San Francisco Bay, comes the prettiness of clone 115 and power of clone 667. Stanly Ranch, in Carneros just northwest across the Napa River from Green Island, provides clone 114 structure and robustness of clone 777. 

Vintage: After the startling fires of 2017, the uneventful growing season and relaxed harvest schedule of 2018 was a much-welcomed change. 2018 was wet in early spring, but with a dry bud-break season, and that began the unfolding of a cool, steady summer with excellent ripening days and no significant heat strikes. It was a summer of fleece in the morning. The resulting wines are more balanced, with lower alcohols, than is typical of our growing region.

Winecrafting: A three-day cold soak preceded 14-16 days in the fermenter. The even growing season provided sufficient yeast nutrition, and the fermentations were clean and smooth though slower to finish due to higher natural acidity. 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 wine walks a fascinating fine line between friendly and intense; sort of Tom Hanks in an Oscar-worthy role. It’s got a brighter hue than usual in its young age, with the nose of cola, dark fruit and even a note of tea; there’s also an elegant, mature hint of spice not usually present in my wines until they gain more age. Initial mouthfeel is delicate, but then unfolds in a multitude of warm and weighty layers of dark fruit and earth, ending with a touch of friendly vanilla. Yeah, Tom Hanks.

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