2020 Stewart Ranch Pinot Noir

The Stewart Ranch vineyard in Carneros has a cool breezy climate that brings out the depth and finesse of the Pinot Noir grape. Planted with the 115 clone on 101-14, and utilizing a 5 x 8 spacing, Stewart is on a peninsula in the Estuary and keeps its leaves in a stoic manner most years so that the fruit can stay shaded in the middle of the day. We had low normal winter rains, with budbreak in mid-March, and flowering in mid-May. We achieved 50% veraison on July 18, and the season unfolded with only moderate heat spikes and cool temperatures in the mornings until the middle of August when things began to heat up. We brought in the fruit on August 21 at 24.6 Brix to preserve the delicacy that is so important to this variety. We gave the Pinot Noir 4 days of cold soak and fermentation with RB2 yeast. It was in an open top tank, so we used mostly punch downs on the cap. It was pressed off on September 2 at -1.6 Brix and went to barrel (dry) a few days later, so we could add malolactic bacteria and let the wine relax in its new oak. The 2020 Stewart Ranch Pinot Noir has lovely aromas of wild cherry, clove, baking spices and subtle notes of cedar in the background. The palate is lively with flavors of black cherry, hazelnut, and a hint of rosemary. This wine has an extremely approachable and velvety finish.