2023 Vineyard Francesca Pinot Noir
2023 Vineyard Francesca Pinot Noir
New Release! This tiny, challenging vineyard sits at the western edge of the Sta. Rita Hills.
Description
This tiny, challenging vineyard gives us an exquisitely balanced wine. The aromas present layers of fresh earth, baking spices, fresh-cut cedar and dark berries. The elegant pallet is silky with soft tannins. Flavors of Bing cherries intertwine with hints of pomegranates and anise. Additional aging time will only increase the subtle nuances of the wine. Pair with grilled shrimp pesto or a warm beet salad.
Vineyard Notes
Vineyard Francesca is truly growing wine on the edge. One of the most westerly vineyards in the Sta. Rita Hills, the west-facing vines slope gently towards the Pacific Ocean. The vines here are fully exposed to the fog and cooling breezes of the region. High-density planting and shale loam soils keep yields very low, resulting in small clusters with thicker than average skins that give intense concentration to the wines produced here. Ken Brown’s vineyard blocks here are planted to clones 115 and 667.
Production Notes
Sta. Rita Hills experienced an unusually cold growing season in 2023. Heavy winter rains delayed budbreak significantly, and cool summer weather led to slow ripening and a later harvest. The Pinot Noir harvest started in late September and continued well into October. The long hang time encouraged excellent flavor development, complexity and concentration. Grapes for this wine were picked on October 4th.
Winemaker Notes
Pinot Noir clusters for this wine were hand sorted before being de-stemmed and gravity fed to fermenters. The must was prepared for a pre-fermentation cold soak where the most beneficial extraction of color, aroma and flavor occurs. Concentration was enhanced by gently punching down the cap a few times per day. The wine aged 18 months in French oak with 17% new barrels in the mix. This Pinot Noir was bottled unfined and unfiltered on April 25th, 2025.
| Vintage |
2023 |
| Wine Style |
Red Wine |
| Varietal |
100% Pinot Noir |
| Appellation |
Sta. Rita Hills |
| Harvest Date |
10/4/2023 |
| Acid |
5.8 g/l |
| PH |
3.68 |
| Bottling Date |
4/25/2025 |
| Alcohol % |
13.7 |
| Size |
750 ml |
