Our newest bottling from Nash Mill Vineyard in the Deep End of Anderson Valley was harvested on September 30, 2018 and after hand-sorting and de-stemming, the Pinot Noir fermented with a combination of 24% whole cluster and the rest whole berry on native yeast. Aged 16 months in new and neutral French oak.
Winemaker's tasting notes: Typical of this cool, foggy site surrounded by tall conifer the 2018 Nash Mill has a beautiful garnet color in the glass. As it opens up, the wine delivers intense aromas of pomegranate, lavender, and dried sage. The mouth-filling palate reveals spices of cracked pepper and clove, as well as juicy red plum and taut tannins. This wine is just beginning to express itself and a little time in the cellar would certainly be rewarded.
Details:
Clones: 115/677/Pommard
Harvest/Brix: September 30, 2018
Fruit: 100% whole berry (no stems)
Fermentation: native
Barrel aging: 15 months in French oak (21% new: Billon AML 3year)
Finish: unfined and unfiltered
Alcohol content: 13.6% by volume
Bottled: February 2020
Production: 110 cases
Drink now through 2028
Suggested Retail Price: $52/bottle (750ml)
Release date: November, 2021
Reviews:
94 Points, Decanter (Sept. 2024): This 2018 Pinot Noir offers a refined balance of fruit, savoury depth, and subtle spice. The well-integrated, fine-grained tannins provide a smooth, velvety texture after six years of ageing. On the palate, vibrant red fruit such as raspberries and currants is complemented by a savoury, earthy quality and a touch of salinity that adds a coastal freshness. A quiet thread of spice—cinnamon and cloves—lingers in the background, adding complexity without stealing the spotlight.
94 Points, Editors' Choice, Wine Enthusiast (Aug/Sep 2022): This elegant, silky smooth, unfiltered wine tastes of savory-spicy and feels broad and deep on the palate. It went through a native fermentation and was aged 15 months in 21% new French barrels. There are mellow mulled plums, woodsy notes and hints of cinnamon on a medium to full body soothed by fine-grained tannins. Editors’ Choice. —J.G.
9 to 9.5, Vinography (October, 2024): "Light to medium garnet in color, this wine smells of sage and other aromatic herbs layered over tart berry fruit. In the mouth, raspberry and redcurrant flavors mix with dried herbs, including sage and thyme, while faint gauzy tannins coat the mouth. Excellent acidity and length, with herbs and citrus peel lingering in the finish. A mix of clones 115 and 667 farmed organically and fermented destemmed but uncrushed with ambient yeasts." - Alder Yarrow
