2021 Pinot Nero Bianco

The Spring start to 2021 was one of the driest on record. Heaps of sunshine and warmth gave us the prospect of a nice crop of winegrapes. Just as the clusters bloomed, we received a shot of cold, wet drizzle. The result was rather poor pollination, limiting a potentially large crop. 

The Summer progressed normally until record heat hit us over the 25-28 July period. By plan, most of our vineyards are setup to drip irrigate if required. Watering vines a couple of days before the 25th seemed to allow the vines to “weather” the heat.  

Harvest began with Sparkling and Pinot Nero Bianco on 31 August with great acidity and fruit flavor. Much of our chardonnay and pinot noir was harvested under sunny Fall skies. A refreshingly cold rain dropped snow down to 5500’ on the 19th and 28th which benefited our later ripening Pinots! The last day of harvest was October 14. Six weeks of picking and grinning! 

The wines are delicious, do not lack for acidity, and due to our ability to drip irrigate vines and chill whole clusters at the winery, fruit expression is concentrated and fresh.  

"The mix of citrus, melon, and flowers on the nose provide a hint of what is to come. There’s also a scent of honey that reminds me of circus, peanut, and honeysuckle blossoms. Then the aromas round out with white grapefruit, mandarin citrus, Melon de Cavaillon and apricot.  There’s a lively fruit acidity mixed with citrus and oceanic minerality on the palate.  That honeysuckle shows up again along with lemon meringue, white citrus and apricot finishing with a salivary grabbing oyster shell minerality." - Rollin Soles, Winemaker

Wine Enthusiast - 94 points
Editors Choice