2021 Lavender Hill Vineyard Pinot Noir

Vineyard

Our Lavender Hill Vineyard is one of the coolest sites in Napa Valley, located in the southern part of the Carneros AVA where fog and breezes from the nearby San Pablo Bay create an optimal climate for growing Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The grapes for our 2021 Pinot Noir came from three small blocks, less than 1.5 acres each, planted to three outstanding French clones: clone 38 from Dijon and clone 90 from Chambertin, plus the “suitcase” clone 828 (a clone smuggled into the U.S. from Dijon many years ago). These clones produce low yields of small clusters and berries, resulting in concentrated wines with intense aromatics and beautiful fruit characteristics.

Winemaking

After hand sorting in the vineyard and again at the winery, the grapes for our Lavender Hill Pinot Noir were gently crushed and transferred to small stainless steel tanks where the fruit underwent a four-day cold soak. Following fermentation, one hundred percent of the wine aged for 18 months in small French oak barrels from the Burgundian barrel cooper, François Frères. We used a mix of toast levels as well as new and used barrels so as not to overwhelm the delicate and aromatic Pinot Noir fruit.

Vintage

The 2021 vintage in Napa Valley will be remembered for a smooth, uneventful growing season and harvest that produced low yields of intensely-flavored, small-sized grape clusters. The season started off with very little rain and continued as a dry, sunny summer led to a relatively cool fall with weeks of lovely weather. 2021 represented the second drought year in a row, and while concerning in the long term, the dry weather resulted in a more natural crop load on the vines, requiring less pruning and dropping of fruit. The resulting grapes were packed with flavor leading to powerful, concentrated wines. 

Tasting Notes

The 2021 Lavender Hill Pinot Noir is fresh and aromatic with an array of dark black cherry, plum and raspberry fruit. Rich and layered with spice box and creamy oak, the wine is deftly balanced with subtle notes of sandalwood, mocha, vanilla and espresso. The fine-grained tannins are mild and the wine’s structure will easily reward ten years of aging.  

Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: Carneros, Napa Valley
Aging: 18 months in French oak barrels