Distinctive aromas of mushroom and soy overlay layers of red fruit, earth and hints of rosemary. We emphasized the use of new oak barrels made from the Bertranges forest near Nevers, France, which tends to offer earthy umami characteristics that enhance the earth and mushroom notes of the Pommard clone in this wine.

Vineyard Notes

Rodgers Creek Vineyard is well suited for growing Pinot noir. It sits high on a ridge right in the heart of the Petaluma Gap and takes the full brunt of wind and fog that define this cool climate zone. The vines grow in light, chalky volcanic ash soils on steep inclines. This causes natural vine stress and results in highly concentrated wines.

Moderate summer weather in 2014 allowed the grapes to develop at an even pace. The Rodgers Creek vines never looked better, and the resulting wine is a step up in terms of depth and refinement. In 2014 we whole-cluster fermented 15% of the grapes to add aromatic complexity and verve.