Soil & Vineyard: Botella Clay Loam full of Chert & Shale. From a combination of three parcels throughout the great Sanford & Benedict vineyard. Two of the plantings are from 10-12 year old vines and provide the dark, deep core to this wine. The third piece, from the original plantings of the 1970s, brings elegance and floral lift.
Production & Aging: Native yeast fermentation using 2/3 whole clusters with occasional punching down during 3 week maceration before pressing into barrel. Aged 18 months in French oak barrels before bottling. 40% new oak.
The 2019 Pinot Noir Sanford & Benedict is a powerful brooding wine. The high percentage of stems (75%) undoubtedly adds savory intensity, but it also masks some site character. The 2019 is a gorgeous wine, but It is also austere and not an especially typical expression of this site. I hope to have a chance to taste it in a decade.
– Antonio Galloni