Wicket

Grapes are picked by hand early each morning into small bins and hand-sorted before a gentle destemming. During the four-day cold soak and the eight- to twelve-day fermentation, the wine is punched down by hand in small, open-top fermenters. On completion of fermentation, the wine is gently basket pressed and gravity racked into the barrels. We aged this Pinot Noir in a regimen of one-third each of new, one-year and two-year old French oak. After resting for 14 months, the final blend was assembled and prepared for bottling. It was then allowed to rest and evolve in the bottle at our winery for an additional six months. This profound and complex Pinot Noir is an intense, beautiful garnet hue. Deep aromas of blackberry, black cherry, dark chocolate with hints of vanilla and a spicy cardamom. You will notice dusty rose scents complemented with earthy notes of forest floor and truffle with black tea accents. Textured, with good volume and a juicy mid-palate, the rich robust flavors are full of dried herbs, sweet baking spices, cola, dark chocolate and blackberry. The finish is elegant and long with fine-grained tannins. Enjoy with duck, an earthy mushroom dish or a finely marbled filet. This Pinot Noir is built for longevity. Cellaring for another 2-4 years will continue to build complexity while softening the tannins.