2012 Wayfarer Pinot Noir
Paige's Ridge

Tasting Notes

Rich ruby in color with great depth and intensity, this single-block Pinot Noir captures the signature characteristics of Dijon clone 667. Aromas of fresh blackberry, cherry, marionberry and strawberry mingle with subtle notes of forest floor, cardamom, vanilla and toast. Profound and inspiring, the wine features a massive presence balanced with extraordinarily focused fruit and silky tannins. Alluring notes of strawberry and raspberry expand and meld with the added mid-palate interlay born of oak tank fermentation. With its enduring finish, gorgeous acidity and phenomenal balance, this is a fascinating wine worthy of honoring the most auspicious occasions.

Winemaking Notes

We hand-picked and hand-sorted the fruit, reserving 20% for whole-cluster fermentation prior to de-stemming. The remaining berries were de-stemmed and hand-sorted again before transfer to a new Taransaud wooden cuve. Five to seven days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% native yeast fermentation. The fruit was then gently pressed, its free-run juice transferred to 17% new French oak barrels for 15 months of aging.

Vintage Notes

The 2012 growing year began with average rainfall and steady, moderate temperatures. A mild spring led to a warm, dry summer, providing ideal conditions for vine growth. Our vineyard crew worked diligently to control vigor and manage the leaf canopy to ensure well-formed, consistent clusters by early summer. Veraison occurred in early August. Mid-to late-summer temperatures never spiked, allowing the fruit to ripen slowly and steadily – the hallmark of a great vintage. We harvested Block 8 on September 26 when the fruit achieved both ideal aromatic maturity and optimal physiological development.

Blocks Map

Clones

Dijon 667