- Wines
2017 Windy Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir
Windy Hill always produces some of our most aromatic Pinot Noir. The soaring nose is confirmed by the expressive palate- juicy red fruits, spice and a background of forest-floor. This wine is drinking quite well in its youth, but should evolve quite nicely over the next 5-7 years at minimum.
Vineyard
Record setting rain replenished our dry soils after 4 continuous years of drought. Yet, it was also another year of record setting heat with an exceptionally torrid Labor Day weekend. Spring was mild, allowing us to pick the best crop we’ve seen since 2012. This was a vintage of good yields and great quality.
Winemaker Notes
The Windy Hill Vineyard is perched atop the Fogarty Estate at nearly 2000 feet in elevation. The 2.5-acre vineyard was replanted in 2012 yet remains tightly packed and full of old California heritage selections of Pinot Noir. The vines are buffeted by wind, often blanketed in fog, and are grown in shallow soil. The challenging environment leads to wines with plenty of character. The Windy Hill wines are laced with red fruits, spice, and distinct mineral notes.
Technical Data
Vintage
2017
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard Designation
Windy Hill Vineyard
Acid
5.4
pH
3.65
Alcohol %
12
Other Notes
Smoked cherry, turned earth, mushroom, singed pine and a hint of maple show on the nose of this bottling from a vineyard 2,000 feet high. The palate begins with a tart raspberry and pomegranate flavor, then picks up floral tones of lavender and rose petal, with hints of game and rosemary arising by the finish. — 94 points. Matt Kettmann, Wine Enthusiast