After working with fruit from the Windsor Oaks Vineyard for several vintages, in 2007 we produced a small amount of vineyard-designate wine. The vineyard is located near Windsor, CA, where blankets of morning coastal fog temper lengthy afternoon sun exposure. The Windsor Oaks fruit continues to play a key role in our Sonoma Coast Pinot noir appellation blend; however, in 2007, two of the four lots stood out from the others and exceeded expectations, prompting us to bottle this limited release wine. The 115 block has rocky, well-drained soils, which stress the vines and reduce yields, resulting in a highly concentrated, well-structured lot. The 777 block provides luscious texture, deep color, and layers of spice and dark cherry flavors.
A deep garnet color greets the eye, and intense aromas of candied cherries and spice fill the nose. The wine has a luscious mouth-feel, as nuances of brown sugar and tobacco add to layers of sweet cherries. This wine has great balance and structure with nice acidity and smooth, firm tannins. It has been described as “provocative, but not so mysterious that it will lead to anything more than the truth.”