| Region | |
|---|---|
| Subregion | U.S.A. > California > Sonoma |
| Colour | Red |
| Type | Still |
12.0% alc., 150 cases. The highest planted vineyard in all of Sonoma and Mendocino County at 2,800 feet. Located just north of the Sonoma Coast AVA and south of the Anderson Valley AVA (essentially an extension of the true Sonoma Coast). 100% whole cluster, native yeast fermentation, fruit crushed and punched down by foot, aged on the lees for 11 months in 100% neutral French oak barrels. ยท Moderate garnet color in the glass. Love this nose. The aromas are fresh and invigorating like a morning shower. Woodsy, with notes of fresh crushed grapes, darker red fruits and spice. On the palate, the wine has plenty of charming energy, offering flavors of dark red and blue fruits framed by ripe fine-grain tannins that are evident but not drying. Well-crafted with a notably persistent finish. Still gorgeous, perfumed and easy to approach when tasted the following day from a previously opened and recorked bottle.
The 2017 Signal Ridge Vineyard pinot noir from Jamie Kutch is a lovely wine in the making. It is entirely whole clusters this year and comes in at a svelte twelve percent octane; it was raised entirely in older casks. The bouquet is bright and youthfully complex, wafting from the glass in a mix of cherries, red plums, a touch of Mendocino herb tones (as well as a touch of Chambolle-like mustard seed), lovely, sweet stem elements, dark soil tones and a topnote of vinesmoke. On the palate the wine is medium-full, intensely flavored and youthfully tight-knit, with a sappy core, a bit of adolescent pepperiness, moderate tannins and a very long, tangy and still quite primary finish. This is tightly-wrapped in its structural elements right now and will demand a bit of bottle age to blossom, but it will be outstanding in the fullness of time. Tackling the wine right now catches it with the whole clusters in ascendency and leaving a youthful weediness that will deter some tasters, but this characteristic is going to turn to cinnamon-like spice tones with proper bottle age and a bit of patience will be richly rewarded. 2025-2065+
