For our third bottling of Pinot Noir Blanc (aka White Pinot Noir), we upped our game and sourced Pinot Noir fruit from Filigreen Farm in Anderson Valley. The vineyard is certified biodynamic and organic. If you've been through Boonville, you may have stopped at Velma's Fruit Stand, which is stocked with produce from Filigreen Farm (get the blueberries when they are in season!). We have the fruit picked at a sugar level of ~21 Brix to capture the balance of ripeness and acidity we are looking for in this white wine variation of Pinot Noir.
Pinot Noir Blanc (not to be confused with Pinot Blanc, which is a different varietal) is a wine made from red pinot noir grapes which are put directly into the press and squeezed gently to yield a pale colored juice that produces a white wine. The wine was fermented in stainless steel and aged sur lie without stirring until bottling. Our 2020 vintage of Pinot Noir Blanc sold out quickly, so get your allocation while you can.
Winemaker's and Vintners' tasting notes: The wine shows pale lemon in the glass, and after a good swirl, it has intense aromas of honeysuckle, Sorrento lemon (think Limoncello), and macerated cherry. There are also subtle notes of summer melon and white peach – we're basically talking about a stroll through a summer farmer's market here, folks. On the palate the intense fruits are layered with lemon curd, beeswax, and a hint of salinity.
There is a zippy acidity on the front of the palate, keeping it super fresh and lively, and some fleshiness on the middle to back palate to add some body to the wine. This will pair well with a salad of spring greens like English peas, mint, Little Gems and Italian parsley, or with some fresh oysters on Tomales Bay. Drink now or over the next 3-5 years.
Details:
Clone: 667, Pommard
Alcohol content: 13.4% by volume
Fruit: whole cluster pressed
Fermentation: rhone4600 yeast
Barrel aging: 6 months in stainless steel sur lie, partial MLF
Bottled: March 2022
Production: 92 cases
Suggested Retail Price: $32/bottle (750 ml)
Release date: April, 2022