- Wines
2014 Will's Cabin Vineyard Pinot Noir
Vineyard
Will’s Cabin Vineyard is less than half a mile from the Gist Ranch Estate. The vineyard sits on fine, sandy soil known as vaqueros sandstone. It is also north facing and 200 feet higher, making it much cooler than Gist Ranch. Here we have planted swan and Mount Eden clones. Uniquely, we’ve also incorporated Mariafeld, a clone originating in Switzerland, which tends to add more tannin and a deeper color to the wine. This clone is used to create a Pinot Noir named after the vineyard as well as our Rosalee rosé of Pinot Noir.
Winemaker Notes
2014 was the second consecutive drought vintage featuring one of the earliest harvesting in our 40+ year history. Early bud-break and flowering combined with relatively warm weather throughout the growing season led to the rapid development of sugar and flavor in many vineyards. Consequently, we had tremendous ripeness at relatively low sugars which produced wines with bright acidity and ample structure.
Technical Data
Vintage
2014
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
Acid
5.3
pH
3.54
Alcohol %
13.30
Other Notes
The 2014 Pinot Noir Will's Cabin packs a serious punch. Energetic and focused, the 2014 shows the phenolic intensity that is typical of this high altitude, hillside site. Dark cherry, plum, menthol and lavender wrap around a core of intense dark fruit. Beams of tannin and acidity provide the structural backdrop. This is an especially savory Pinot with a real mountain sense of structure. - 93 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous