2020 Metz Road Pinot Noir

VINEYARDS

The Estate Riverview Vineyard is a 340-acre, cold-climate (Region 1), sustainably-farmed, benchland site that overlooks the Salinas River. It is situated on the east side of the Salinas Valley just below the Pinnacles National Park. This property features granitic soils, great exposure and little protection from the strong winds that scrub the valley every afternoon. It is planted to an assortment of varieties, clones and rootstocks specifically matched to the various micro-climates, soils and aspects of the terrain. The namesake Metz Road runs alongside the property.

WINEMAKING

The grapes were hand-picked in the early morning hours, brought to the winery and gently whole-cluster pressed. The juice was fermented in small lots in open-top fermenters using a punch-down regimen of three times per day to gently extract color and tannins. After fermentation, the must was gently pressed into a stainless steel tank for settling, then racked to 100% French oak barrels (30% new) for 14 months before bottling

TASTING NOTES 

Complexity, clarity and accuracy are the hallmarks of the 2020 Pinot Noir. It opens with cherries, currants and raspberries, then finishes with mocha, vanilla and oak. The flavors are precise and the tannins are integrated. For those of us who prefer a more elegant style of Pinot, this is the perfect wine.