Wild Thyme Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019

We planted the Wild Thyme Vineyard with clones Pommard and 943 in the year 2009.  It sits along the ridge-line between our Three Sisters Vineyard and our Blue Slide Ridge Vineyard, on the edge of a sheer canyon that the old timers refer to as “Devil’s Canyon”. The vineyard is just above the fogbank that hugs these coastal cliffs, allowing for this Pinot Noir to ripen slowly, developing layers of complexity and flavor. Wild Thyme Vineyard is named for the wild thyme that grows abundantly at this location, and for the wild times we have had as a family while drinking wine on this property since the 1860s.

The 2019 season was overall very cool with record rainfall for Sonoma County in February. The vines however were not affected by this because they were still dormant at the time. Similar to the 2018 season, spring and summer were moderate in temperature and ripening developed gradually and under minimal stress. This year was in fact so similar to 2018 that we began harvest the same day, on September 10. Unfortunately another wildfire hit the region at the end of October, but luckily none of our vineyards were affected. The winery and many employees were evacuated, but we were able to keep an eye on the new vintage with a skeleton crew. The quality was not impacted and we are very excited at the concentration of flavors in this vintage.

APPELLATION

Fort Ross-Seaview

VARIETALS PLANTED

Pinot Noir

ROOTSTOCK

420A, 3309

CLONAL SELECTION

943, Pommard

YEAR ACQUIRED

2009

YEAR PLANTED

2009

VARIETIES

Pinot Noir

Complex aromas of wild berries, dew kissed grasses and wild flowers greet your nose. Succulent and mouthwatering flavors of raspberry and cocoa dust dance on the palate, while light spice notes complement the lush finish.