The Mariah Vineyard sits at 2400 ft. elevation just a few miles away from the Pacific Ocean. This vineyard is unique and special in many different ways. The vines are actually above the fog line and thus the title “Islands in the Sky” has been given to this magical place. Because of this the fruit ripens evenly but with less concern for mildew or pests. The Mariah Vineyard is also one of the 1st regeneratively-farmed vineyards in the U.S. meaning farming focuses on soil health, fostering biodiversity, using natural solutions to herbicides and pesticides while mitigating the effect of climate change by storing carbon.
This Pinot Noir is a combination of clones 115, Pommard, and 667 and we used a significant amount of whole cluster which makes this wine ethereal and spicy and delicate and perfect. We love it. There is something special about Pinot Noir grown in the right places and this is one of those places.
There is a dichotomy in Pinot where because it is generally light and lower in alcohol than many other reds, it is incredibly hard to maintain acidity in Pinot. That is why it was so essential for us to find a high-elevation vineyard with a cool climate for our Pinot Noir and Mariah is one of the finest vineyards in California for exactly that. This wine has all the classic whole-cluster Pinot Noir aromatics that I love like fresh cherries, rose petals, cola, and Christmas spices. On the palate it is incredibly fresh and lively without being thin or insipid. The subtle tannins hold it all together and extend the finish. I have been wanting to make this wine my whole career. – Winemaker Scott Kirkpatrick
The 2023 Mendocino County harvest was atypical and fairly unique, but in a good way. Grape ripening was delayed by 2-3 weeks due to a slow start and a cooler than usual spring and summer. We saw a mix of reds and whites being harvested simultaneously. However, the longer hang times and cooler temperatures produced one of the best vintages seen in the last 20 years with grape quality being at what we consider exceptional levels. Yields ranged from just about average in some Mendocino County AVAs to much higher than normal in other areas, but the constant was the outstanding quality of the fruit. The final analysis has shown an ideal balance between acidity and sugars, with the wines exhibiting dynamic complexity, abundant aromatics and a wonderful depth of flavors.
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