2016 Wayfarer Pinot Noir
Paige's Ridge

Tasting Notes

 This dense, ruby red wine from a single block is a singular expression of the Dijon 667 clone. Aromas of cherry, licorice, and blackberries with cream are accented by hints of lilac, vanilla and oak—with just a touch of forest floor. The palate is dense and chewy, with notes of chai tea, star anise, and ripe fruit flavors balanced by dusty tannins. Enjoy upon release or over the next 5 to 10 years.

Winemaking Notes

In the pre-dawn hours, the fruit was hand-picked and hand-sorted. We de-stemmed and hand-sorted again, before transferring the berries to tank where 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 was transferred to 50% new French oak barrels for 15 months of aging.

Vintage Notes

The 2016 vintage showcases elegance and purity of fruit, as the growing season shifted to a more normal time frame after the previous three vintages encountered an early start. The growing season began with above-normal temperatures that eased into more moderate June weather. A minor heat spell in the last days of August and into the first of September brought the vines out of their slow,
methodical ripening.

When the temperature increased, extra care was taken by the vineyard team. Multiple passes through the vineyard paid off—we harvested each block of our Wayfarer Vineyard at peak ripeness, for wines with vibrant fruit and balanced acidity.

Blocks Map

Clones

Dijon 667