2016 Burnside Vineyard Pinot Noir
Shockingly low yields are essential to achieving proper ripeness in this very cold vineyard. Though initially showing some red and black fruitiness, the core of this wine bends to the vinous and savory spectrum with aromas of five-spice powder, moist forest floor, soy and a faint hint of salty ocean air. The 2016 is more tannic than typical, but the seamlessly smooth layers of extract flow and linger, producing a poised and refined finish on this delicious food-friendly wine. A great foil to dishes high in umami, such as mushroom tart or salmon grilled on a cedar plank.
2016 was another fantastic growing season. It started out with good winter rainfall, which after four years of drought, was a big relief. While the summer of 2016 was quite hot, a perfectly timed cool-down over a three-week period in August allowed the grapes to ripen with moderate sugar levels. It also preserved the acidity that is so essential to making great Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. Thus, the quality is exceptional with vivid, alluring flavors in the Chardonnays and deep colors and gorgeous aromatics in the Pinot Noir.
Burnside Vineyard is located just south-west of Sebastopol, on the corner of Watertrough Road and Burnside Road, in an area referred to by locals as the Sebastopol Hills. It’s in one of the coolest areas in Russian River and is farmed by George Martinelli to a level of quality seen in very few vineyards in California. Burnside Vineyard is on an east-facing ridgetop exposed to cool marine air from the Pacific. Red Goldridge series soils mark Burnside Vineyard as a superb Pinot Noir site, with a hillside orientation bending to the east for early morning sun exposure. Our primary block of Burnside Vineyard is planted entirely to the excellent Dijon clone 115, which has proven successful in several of California’s top Pinot Noir vineyards. We also incorporate a small amount of clone 777 Pinot Noir from an additional block for complexity. Year after year, Burnside is an extremely low-yielding site producing very small, intensely flavored berries.
100% Burgundian French oak barrels (40% new; 60% 1-2-year old)
Bottled without filtration to preserve the wine’s aromas and flavors and enhance aging potential
- Type:
- Red
- Varietal:
- Pinot Noir
- Region:
- California
- Appellation:
- Russian River Valley
- Vintage:
- 2016
- Blend:
- 100% Pinot Noir
- Alcohol:
- 14.2
- Fermentation:
- Multi-yeast fermentations (native yeast, followed by cultured yeast); 100% malo-lactic fermentation in barrel.