2016 Mindego Ridge Pinot Noir Magnum
$105
100% estate grown, single vineyard Pinot Noir from our 8.7 acre home vineyard, 8 miles from the Pacific in the Santa Cruz Mountains. To preserve the beauty and nuance of this ocean-influenced, cool climate mountain vineyard, our Pinot Noir is made in small lots by non-interventionist methods – hand sorting, native yeast fermentation, hand punch downs. Aged for 11 months in ¼ new, ¾ neutral French oak. Bottled unfined and unfiltered. Beautiful drinkability now, with exciting cellaring potential. 13.9% Alcohol. 640 cases produced.
Acclaim For This Bottle
“A lovely wine, the 2016 Pinot Noir from Mindego Ridge reveals a pure bouquet of black raspberries, plums, cherries and dried flowers. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, layered and supple, with an ample core of fruit, velvety tannins and a flavorful finish. This will be a delight to follow for the better part of a decade.” 94 Points. -William Kelley, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, May 2018
Technical Notes
In The Vineyard
In welcome contrast to 2015’s challenging vintage, the 2016 growing season kicked off with nearly normal winter rains and a warm January that advanced bud break. A cool summer then prolonged hang times allowing flavors to develop with ideal phenolic ripeness at modest sugar levels and remarkable acidity that is typical of this site. The wines that result are beautifully balanced, age-worthy and stunning to the core.
In The Cellar
To preserve the character of both the vineyard and vintage, our Pinot Noir is made in small lots with minimal intervention in the cellar. Gentle de-stemming, with the addition of 40% whole cluster and no SO2 on the crushpad. Whole berries are cold-soaked until native fermentation begins, then given daily punchdowns. After approximately two weeks on skins, wine is gently basket-pressed to barrel. Wine completed native ML fermentation February 16th. Bottled unfined and unfiltered.
Data
Appellation: Santa Cruz Mountains
Winemaker: Ehren Jordan
Acreage: 8.7 acres Pinot Noir, 100% Estate Grown
Exposure & Slope: South facing mountain slopes, 20-25%
Soil Type: 10-18” of silty clay loam over fractured shale subsoil
Marine Influence: 9 miles from the Pacific, adjacent to redwoods
Elevation: 700’ to 950’
Clone Selection: Dijon (114, 115, 667, 777, 828, 943)
Rootstock Selection: 420A and 3309
Vine Spacing: 7’ x 4’ (1600 vines/acre)
Harvest: August 20 – September 18, 2016
Barrel Regimen: French Oak, François Frères, 25% new
Barrel Aging: 11 months
Finished Alcohol: 13.9%
Chemistry @ Harvest:
23.2 – 23.8 Brix
3.51 pH
6.6 g/L titratable acidity
Bottled: August 2017
640 cases produced
