Nash Mill vineyard is located on a southern profile in the Eastern hills, at the cool northern end of the Anderson Valley. Its location is within a large cold air drainage which further moderates temperatures and slows grape ripening. The typical harvest at Nash Mill is about 2 weeks later than many other vineyards in the Anderson Valley.
The vineyard is farmed with an emphasis on balance. The use of irrigation, fertilizers and cover crops is tuned to devigorate the strong zones and build strength in the weaker areas. Since the property includes Mill Creek, a healthy salmon fishery, the Vineyard uses Fish Friendly practices and was certified in 2010. Starting in 2017, the vineyard began transition to organic farming practices.
Two different Dijon clones of Pinot Noir, 667 and 115, were harvested on September 11, 2021 and after hand-sorting and de-stemming, the Pinot Noir fermented on its native yeast and aged in new and used French oak for 16 months.
Details:
Clones: 115/677
Harvest/Brix: September 11, 2021
Fruit: 100% whole berry (no stems)
Fermentation: native yeast
Barrel aging: 16 months in French oak (28% new:
Cadus medium toast)
Finish: unfined and unfiltered
Alcohol content: 13.7% by volume
Bottled: February 2023
Production: 86 cases
Drink now through 2033
Suggested Retail Price: $55/bottle (750ml)
Release date: March, 2024
Reviews:
95 Points, Wine & Spirits (April, 2024): Mark and Katie Wentworth farm this vineyard in the Deep End of Anderson Valley, 12 miles from the Pacific, located between two creeks that drain cold air down the hillside. Brian Mast and Jennifer Waits have based their winemaking in San Francisco, since their first vintage in 2005; now, in collaboration with winemaker Shalini Sekhar, they continue to work in the city, though the distance doesn’t seem to have impacted this wine. Its remarkable energy is apparent from the scent. There’s plenty of oak influence, but the wine supersedes it, bristling with the cool fragrance of spring roses. From there, the wine improves markedly with a day of air, subtle and fine in its baked-strawberry scent, the tannins present but never hard, the heady richness checked by fresh oceanic savor. It delivers a grand cru level of complexity and should age with grace.—J.G.
95 points, Decanter (September, 2024): "From the Nash Mill Vineyard in the eastern hills at the north end of the Anderson Valley, owned by Mark and Katie Wentworth. It clocks in at a balanced 13.7% alcohol and delivers the ripest, most fruit-forward style of the Waits-Mast wines I tasted, which means pushing the edge of leanness into bright, just-ripe Pinot Noir that has a creaminess so typical of the Nash Mill Vineyard. Add to that plenty of delectable cranberry and raspberry fruits, clove, and vanilla bean. A vein of iron-like minerality threads the entire wine, finishing with a medium-bodied richness and blood orange sprinkled with a dash of sea salt and rounded out by cedarwood spices." (Jonathan Cristaldi)
95 Points, Decanter (December, 2024): "Another dazzler from the Nash Mill Vineyard in the Deep End of the Anderson Valley, its coolest part. It's beautifully fresh Pinot Noir with savoury herbs, Oceanic salinity and juicy cherry flesh aromatics. The palate is concentrated with rays of fresh marine salinity shooting across a palate of deep pomegranate fruits and white pepper. Delicious." (Clive Pursehouse)
93 points, Jeb Dunnuck (February, 2025): "There are nice savory opening notes of forest, crushed rock, and violet in the 2021 Pinot Noir Nash Mill Vineyard, the producer's last vintage of this particular vineyard-designate. Whole berry-fermented, with only 90 cases made, it offers moderate concentration and acidity within its light frame, giving it a sense of balance and weightiness around a velvety texture and impressive length. Cellar through 2033."
93 points, James Suckling (December, 2024): "This producer has a distinctive soft, silky approach to pinot noir and it shows beautifully in this relaxed, broad and complex wine. Savory elements of sauteed mushrooms, bay leaves and redwood bark with macerated cherries, sour cherries, cinnamon and cloves. It has a medium body, relaxed tannins and a lingering finish."
93 points, Wine Enthusiast (July, 2024): "This wine is bright, lively with aromas of fresh strawberry, watermelon, guava and cumin. The midpalate has flavors of red plum, raspberry, blood-orange zest and turmeric interwoven with white pepper, cinnamon, bittersweet chocolate and a dry finish. Pair with miso black cod. — Tonya Pitts"
