"This full-bodied wine pops in tones of fresh, ripe raspberry and black cherry, backed by firm acidity and fine-grained tannins. It's deftly balanced now, but will be better with time. Drink from 2023."
Oppenlander Vineyard is well off the beaten path in Mendocino County outside of the town of Comptche. It’s about eight and a half miles from the Pacific Ocean as the crow flies at an elevation of 250 feet. Oppenlander is owned by the Shandel family, 5th generation owners of the property, and was originally homesteaded in the 1860s by their ancestors from Denmark (via the Gold Rush in Australia). The vineyard sees consistently cool temperatures across the growing season and is harvested later than other regions. This cooler temperature range and coastal proximity can deliver a certain “oceanic acidity,” lending structure and complexity to the wine.
Oppenlander Vineyard gives off a coastal vibe of Pinot Noir: fresh and lush dark red fruit, with a salinity and minerality that recalls the Mendocino coast sea breeze. The 2016 vintage was a return to more rains and our Pinot Noir wines from this vintage all display a fresh and round composition. The 2016 Oppenlander shows beautiful deep ruby color in the glass, and the dark brooding aromas of this wine are true to the identity of Oppenlander year after year. The nose reveals blackberry, herbs de Provence and cedar.
Aged 16 months in 33% new French oak, hints of clove, anise and a hint of dried coconut layer the black cherry core on the palate. Generous in weight, the palate remains structured with racy acidity and textured tannins that can stand up to heartier fare.
Details:
Clone: Dijon 114, 115, 667
Harvest: September 23, 2016
Alcohol content: 14.1% by volume
Fruit: 100% whole berry (no stems)
Fermentation: Brioso yeast
Barrel aging: 16 months in French oak, 33% new (Sirugue CTGE 3yr, Billon AM+ 3 yr)
Finish: unfined and unfiltered
Bottled: March 2018
Production: 145 cases
Drink now through 2026
Release date: June, 2020
