Santa Cruz Mountians Woodenhead Pinot Noir 2016
Our last vintage of this wine, it has been a pleasure to make it, such a different terroir and expression of Pinot Noir. I’ve always loved it and its history, being planted by David Bruce and Martin Ray. At an elevation of 2100 feet on Summit Road, it has all the attributes of a high elevation mountain wine not usually a home for Pinot Noir, but then again…..I’ve been thrilled to be able to work with this fruit. A medium to darker ruby, with a medium structured body showing a bit of the mountain tannin. Aromatics of sour cherry and chaparral in the high country on a warm day. Think manzanita flowers, dusty and rocky. The aromas fill the glass when first poured. The palate jumps with cherries, pomegranate and mountain oregano. A medium tannin component that compliments rather than interferes with the flavors. Makes me think of things Greek – lamb grilled over rosemary and dried mountain herbs. Oh boy, take me to one of the Greek Islands in the Aegean. Balanced, ageable, superb! Sorry to see it go. Enjoy!
Aging
Unfined and UnfilteredVineyard
Kent Berry VineyardAlc. %
14.4%| T.A. | 0.6g/L |
|---|---|
| pH | 3.56 |
| Cases Produced | 130 |
| Closure | Natural |
| Bottle Size | Standard |
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Woodenhead Vintners
Nikolai Stez is the Woodenhead winemaker. He has been at fermentation since he was a boy making the traditional Russian drink "kvas" (a fermented bread or fruit drink) that his immigrant parents taught him to make. In college, he made wines for his biology and botany classes, and started making home wines in earnest since 1986. Nick worked for 17 years of crush fun for the famous "two guys in a garage cult winery" that put Russian River Valley Pinot on the map. Working for Burt Williams as an assistant winemaker confirmed his life's passion for wine. Born in San Francisco and living on the Russian River since age one, he considers the North Coast his back yard and knows it well, from Sonoma County north to Humboldt and Del Norte. The coast range is his playground.
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