- Wines
2021 Rapley Trail Vineyard Pinot Noir
Please click the attached Tech Card below to access the video of Winegrower, Nathan Kandler, speaking about the wine.
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Vineyard
Rapley Trail Vineyard consists of the martini clone planted in 1983. The 6-acre plot sits at an elevation of 1650 feet and is southeast facing. Different blocks are harvested and bottled from this vineyard to showcase the soil and climate variations found here. At higher elevations the soil is dark and rich whereas the lower portions are grey, lean, and rough. While all vintages and blocks yield distinctive notes, there is a common theme of an exotic and spicy aroma.
Winemaker Notes
The 2021 vintage was a welcome change from the catastrophe of 2020, which saw devastating fires throughout the region. Sugar and acidity levels tracked well and while crop size was shorter than we would prefer, we were able to harvest perfectly ripened fruit at a reasonable pace. The resulting wines have excellent balance and intensity. In comparison to our most recent vintages, there are some similarities to 2019 in that the wines possess great elegance and site specificity.
Technical Data
Vintage
2021
Varietal
Pinot Noir
Appellation
Santa Cruz Mountains
Vineyard Designation
Rapley Trail Vineyard
Acid
6.3
pH
3.48
Alcohol %
13.70
Other Notes
The 2021 Pinot Noir Rapley Trail Vineyard is laced with dried herbs, mint, sweet pipe tobacco, menthol, licorice and crushed red berry fruit. Medium in body and sinewy, the 2021 possesses notable energy to match its translucent, expressive personality. Martini clone is so expressive here. I very much like the energy. - 94 points. Antonio Galloni, Vinous