2020 Laniger Vineyard Pinot Noir

The Laniger Vineyard is located on an opposing bench slope adjacent from our acclaimed Deer Camp vineyard, on the western edge of Grace Benoist Ranch.  Here the soils are very well-drained alluvial Laniger loam, a volcanic fine sandy loam with gray to brown color and medium acidity levels, a result of the Rodgers Creek Fault line which runs near the vineyard.  Laniger is more protected from the cooling Petaluma Gap but still benefits from proximity to the San Pablo Bay, allowing the fog to develop early and recede late in the day.  The gradual slope here and moderate microclimate allows for even vine growth and ideal fruit ripening. 

The grapes for this wine were harvested at night to preserve freshness and integrity. They were placed in open-top fermenters for 3-5 days of cold maceration followed by fermentation. A small percentage of the grapes were left as whole cluster to preserve the buoyancy of aromatics of the fruit and to add structure and refinement to the wine. Punch downs were performed during the early stages of fermentation with the extraction becoming gentler as the wine became dry. A quiet extended maceration followed, helping to enhance the richness and mouthfeel of the wine. The wine was lightly pressed into French oak barrels (25% new) where it rested for 14 months. The wine was bottled with no fining or filtration and allowed to rest for another eight months prior to release.