2019 Growing Season & Winemaking
After a record rainfall during the 2018/19 winter, Sonoma County experienced a near perfect grape-growing season. Spring was cooler than usual and, in many areas of Sonoma, pushed harvest back versus previous years. Rain showers in May were followed by mild temperatures during the summer, which lead to even ripening and superior flavor development.
Picked during the early morning hours of September 13, 2019, the grapes were crushed at the winery and underwent primary fermentation. Once dryness had been reached, the wine remained on its skins for a few additional days, before being pressed into a tank for a brief time of settling. The wine was then transferred into neutral French Oak barrels to undergo malolactic fermentation. Post-MLF, the finished wine was racked and returned to barrels, where it remained and aged for 11 months until being bottled in August 2020.
2019 Pinot Noir Pigasus Vineyard Tasting Notes
This medium-bodied Pinot Noir opens on the nose with delicate aromas of cranberry and red cherry, followed by earthy undertones. On the palate, the cranberry and cherry aromas become more pronounced and are complemented by aromas of black tea and forest floor. The elegant texture and bright acidity lead to a savory lingering finish.
Note regarding 2020: The 2020 growing season was plagued by numerous wildfires in Sonoma and Napa. These wildfires resulted in many vineyards impacted by smoke taint. For this reason, we did not produce any Pinot Noir in 2020.
2021 Growing Season & Winemaking
For the 2021 growing season, drought was the greatest challenge to Sonoma vineyard owners. Sonoma County received only 14 inches of rain during its season, forcing many grape growers to conserve their limited water resources to when most needed. After an overall mild spring, stressed vines, often with smaller canopies, found themselves in extreme drought conditions from May through harvest. The lack of water led to slightly smaller yields, but the absence of any extreme heat waves resulted in grapes with great intensity and concentration.
Hand picked early on September 4th and early on September 10th of 2021, respectively, the grapes were fermented with native yeasts. Approximately 30% of the fruit was fermented as whole clusters. After some extended maturation, the fruit was pressed and moved to neutral French Oak barrels for malolactic fermentation. Upon completion of MLF, the wine was racked and returned to barrels for its aging process. The finished wine was bottled in July 2022.
2021 Pinot Noir van der Kamp Vineyard Tasting Notes
On the nose, the wine offers an alluring balance of delicately layered red fruits, savory herbs, and some floral notes. In the mouth, the wine reveals itself as medium bodied with flavors of pomegranate, cranberry, hibiscus, and black tea. While the wine’s balanced acidity creates an elegant mouthfeel that continues well into the finish, its finely grained tannins indicate sufficient structure for many years of aging.
2022 Growing Season & Winemaking
Similar to 2021, 2022 was a year marked by drought in Sonoma County. The resulting lower yields of the 2022 growing season produced grapes of great quality and concentrated flavors. A dry winter was followed by some rain in the spring and, in some cases, frost conditions that lead to shatter and further reduced yields. A fairly mild summer then allowed for healthy canopy development. However, a Labor Day heatwave that remained for several days beyond the holiday sped up the grape ripening process and harvest pace.
Hand-harvested on August 25th and on September 6th, respectively, each of the crushed Pinot Noir lots received a cold-soak for several days, before their native fermentations commenced. As in the prior year, the whole-cluster percentage was kept at approximately 30%. Once primary fermentations were complete, the must was pressed on September 19th and transferred to neutral French Oak barrels. After malolactic fermentation in barrel was complete, the wine received a rack & return, before starting its remaining aging process in neutral French Oak. It remained in barrel until a few days prior to its bottling date in July 2023.
2022 Pinot Noir van der Kamp Vineyard Tasting Notes
Aromatics of rose petals, morello cherries, cranberries, and petrichor evolve from the glass, while on the palate, layers of red fruits, black tea, and a hint of white pepper combine to reveal a wine of great depth and structure, indicating excellent aging potential. Framed by lively acidity, the wine’s fruit flavors are harmoniously joined by well-integrated tannins and lead to a lingering finish.
2023 Growing Season & Winemaking
Following years of drought, the 2023 growing season began after a wet winter with abundant rainfall. The rainfall and cool temperatures delayed vine development by several weeks versus 2022, with budbreak only arriving in April. During the weeks that followed, moderate temperatures resulted in balanced flowering and fruit set in June. The remainder of the growing season was also characterized by moderate temperatures without any heat spikes. This lack of temperature extremes allowed grapes to ripen slowly and evenly with optimal flavor development until harvest in October.
Meticulously harvested by hand on October 7th and on October 10th, respectively, the crushed fruit was cold soaked for several days and then gently warmed before native fermentations of each lot started . The fruit of each fermentation bin included approximately 30% whole clusters, just like in prior years. On October 26th, once all alcoholic fermentations were complete, the wine was first drained into neutral French oak barrels and the remaining skins then pressed into a tank for 48 hours. The press wine in the tank was then transferred into neutral French oak barrels. Upon completion of malolactic fermentation in barrel, the wine was racked and returned to the same barrels to continue its aging process. The finished wine was bottled unfined and unfiltered in August 2024.
2023 Pinot Noir van der Kamp Vineyard Tasting Notes
Vivid expressions of red fruits including wild strawberry, raspberry, and fresh pomegranate intertwine with aromas of crushed violets, rose petals and forest herbs on the wine’s initial nose. As the wine opens in the glass, subtle notes of black tea, damp earth, and clove emerge. On the palate, the wine is elegantly structured with vibrant red cherry, cranberry, and wild raspberry flavors, followed by savory undertones of mushroom, sage, and black tea leaf. The wine’s acidity is bright yet balanced, showing the tension and precision of the mountain terroir. The finish is long with red fruit notes and a faint saline edge that leaves the palate refreshed and eager for the next sip.
