The color projects red garnet. The nose throws interesting citrus vignettes, key lime pie, red esters, oiled wood, warmer Christmas spice and orange Pekoe tea. The riper red fruit palate is lighter, more generous than ponderous, with clove and orange accents ending on silky tannins.
100% Pinot Noir sourced from Temperance Hill’s (40-year-old) later and cooler high-elevation vines, at the top of the Eola Hills AVA, deliver old vine complexity with fresh acidity. These own-rooted vines are from the Front Block, the oldest at Temperance, and their massive root systems go deep to deliver high flavor and nuance to the limited yield.
This wine is the four best barrels selected, wild-yeast fermentations in stainless steel, 100% barrel aged for 18 months: no new, one once-filled, two twice-filled, one neutral. Bottled unfined and unfiltered in April 2021.
Vinous Review:
Bright violet. Expressive, finely detailed raspberry, boysenberry, blood orange and exotic spice aromas take on succulent herb and mineral flourishes as the wine opens up. Deftly blends weight and vivacity, offering juicy red and blue fruit preserve, star anise, candied lavender and cola flavors that steadily firm up through the back half.
