Super happy that our 2021 Pinot Noir from the Santa Cruz Mountains won a Gold medal at the 2024 San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition, the largest competition of North American wines.

2021 was a great year. We picked the grapes on September 25, which is late for the Santa Cruz Mountains. However, the extra hang time allowed the grapes to develop fully and reach optimal phenolic ripeness. We fermented the wine at 25-27C for about ten days and left it on the skins for another seven days before pressing. We pressed the wine of the skins and transferred it to new American oak barrels (228L), where it was left for 14 months before we bottled it.

The taste is true to the Santa Cruz Mountains terroir with high acidity, balanced by the rich red fruit and silky, smooth tannins. It has a pronounced red cherry flavor that I absolutely love, with notes of herbs and spices. The oak is well integrated, creating an elegant wine with intensity.