2018 Wayfarer Pinot Noir
Mother Rock

Tasting Notes

Focused purity of fruit, combined with a dense palate and mineral finish – this is the 2018 Mother Rock. Fresh raspberries mingle with blackberry and marionberry. Crisp acidity holds the palate in focus, complementing the elegant tannin. It is fresh, pure and beautiful.

Winemaking Notes

We hand-picked each block and delivered firm, cool clusters to the winery before sunrise. We then hand-sorted and destemmed the fruit before transferring to tank, where eight days of cold maceration preceded more than two weeks of 100% native yeast fermentation. The free run wine was transferred to 67% new French oak for 15 months of aging.

Vintage Notes

2018 was marked by a long and temperate growing season that allowed for an ideal harvest. The Pinot Noir vines began to emerge on March 31st. Annual rainfall was only 37.5 inches, 35% below average, however a large portion of this rain came in April. With spring rain filling the soil profile, the vines were able to thrive in the early growing season and continued to revel in moderate weather through May. Bloom occurred during the first days of June, and an idyllic summer allowed for a long ripening period. With high temperatures between 79 and 82 degrees throughout August, and a moderately cool September, we were able to pick precisely as the fruit reached phenolic ripeness, leading to wonderful tannin texture and exceptional aromatics.

Blocks

3, 11

Clones

Dijon 777, Mount Eden

Critics

98 Points

Antonio Galloni, Vinous.com, April 2020

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Mother Rock is dense, heady and explosive, with tremendous concentration, unctuous sweetness and exceptional balance. Ripe red/purplish berry fruit, lavender, cloves and leather infuse the 2018 with tremendous character. In this range, the Mother Rock stands out for its bright red berry fruit and chalky, white pepper overtones that confer freshness. This is such a gorgeous, arrestingly beautiful wine. I loved it."

98 Points

Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com, May 2020

"Brought up in 67% new French oak, the 2018 Pinot Noir Mother Rock has more mineral-laced, cassis, black raspberry, toasted spice, graphite, and violet aromas and flavors. Full-bodied and pure, with silky tannins and a magical texture, it shows incredible purity of fruit as well as flawless balance. This is one of the finest Pinot Noir I was able to taste for this report, and it's going to evolve beautifully for a solid 8-10 years."

97 Points

Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate, September 2020

"The 2018 Pinot Noir Mother Rock has a medium ruby color an alluring perfume of blood orange, lilac, garrigue, boysenberries and dried cranberries, more and more nuances arriving with time in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is a wonderland of flavor layers supported by ripe tannins and loads of juicy acidity, finishing very long with intense, kaleidoscopic flavors. What a beauty!"

Wine Data

Winemaker:
Todd Kohn
Origin:
Wayfarer Vineyard, Fort Ross-Seaview AVA
Pruning:
Double guyot
Vine Yield:
2.9 pounds
Harvested:
September 27, 2018
Bottled:
December 19, 2019
Release:
April 2021
Composition:
100% Pinot Noir
Alcohol:
14.4%
pH:
3.5
TA:
6.2 g/L
Cases Produced:
120

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