2017 Poseidon Vineyard Estate Pinot Noir
TASTING NOTES
Medium light in color, this Pinot Noir teases the nose with dried raspberries, then builds allspice, clove, and nutmeg, evolving into fresh baked strawberry-rhubarb pie. Bing cherry, root beer and vanilla provide grace notes. On the palate this is quintessentially Carneros and classically Poseidon Vineyard: medium-weight, not overly aggressive, with well-balanced fruit and spice flavors that echo the aromas, with an added touch of soy and Sassafras. The acidity leaves the finish clean and fresh while the spice notes continue their echo.
HISTORY
Poseidon Vineyard, located at the confluence of Carneros Creek and the Napa River, was planted in 1973 by the Molnar Family to the Burgundian varietals: Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The maritime environment of the Carneros grape-growing season delivers cool, foggy mornings followed by warm days that slowly nurture ripening.
VINTAGE
Northern California continued to recover from the drought, and the year began with abundant rainfall and mild spring weather. The rejuvenated vines produced a beautiful crop. Summer temperatures were normal and harvest began slightly early and slowly. On October 8th, terrible wildfires erupted in Napa and Sonoma Counties. We were fortunate that we had already completed the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir harvest from Poseidon Vineyard. Obsidian Ridge Vineyard was well north of the fire and smoke and was totally unaffected. It was a year in which the attentive winemaker, one familiar with his vineyards and with a committed and reliable crew, was rewarded.
WINEMAKING
We painstakingly harvested the three blocks of the hillside (top, skirt, bottom) separately, picking across the three Dijon clones: 115, 667 and 777. We kept the fermentation temperatures low to retain the fruit’s liveliness. As soon as the fermentations were complete, the wines were pressed gently into 100% Kádár Tokaj oak, adding a signature spiciness to the blend that complements the fruit character. Racked only once before bottling, the result is a very pure, fruit-filled expression of Pinot Noir.
Alex Beloz, Winemaker