Morrito Pinot Noir 2017

Description

THE VINEYARDS Planted on a south-west facing slope from our Southern hilltop vineyard site, Morrito has consistently outperformed other Pinot Noir blocks on the estate. Morrito Hill’s soils are different in that they contain an abundance of calcareous rock and are refered to as the “Chamise shaly loam soil series”. Morrito is one of the first Pinot Noirs blocks harvested and has been our most limited and sought after Pinot Noir since its inception in 2003.

VINTAGE 2016 was a marvelous year. A warm spring gave an early flourish of growth in the vineyard with moderate weather during flowering. Summer was warm but without any debilitating heat spikes with long periods of almost ideal daytime highs (75-85 F). This warm, consistent weather continued during harvest allowing us to pick relatively leisurely at ideal maturity.

WINEMAKING Our Morrito Hill Pinot Noir is harvested from multiple picks as it reaches full maturity. The fruit is hand-picked at night, then meticulously hand-sorted. Berries are then destemmed and gravity fed into small open-top fermentors. After a three-day cold soak, a long, cool fermentation is initiated using native yeasts. Gentle pumpovers are utilized to optimize extraction. Following fermentation, the wine is racked to French oak barrels for 16-18 months with minimal racking.

Awards

96 pts Wine Enthusiast Points

94 pts Vinous by Antonio Galloni

Certificates

Vineyard

Morrito Hill