2017 Envision Pinot Noir
2017 Envision Pinot Noir
A carefully curated blend of the best Sta. Rita Hills vineyards, including Rita's Crown, Radian and Sanford & Benedict.
Description
The 2017 Envision Pinot Noir is brimming with intensity and poise, beautifully portraying Ken’s vision of the Sta. Rita Hills appellation. Vivid aromas of cherry, red raspberry and baked plum are highlighted by notes of white pepper, cedar and a touch of allspice. On the palate, hints of black cherry, wild strawberry and smoked almonds give way to a lush mid-palate, culminating in a lingering finish. Additional time in the bottle will add even more layers of complexity to this wine, assuring excellent aging potential.
Vineyard Notes
44% Rita’s Crown, 22% Radian, 22% Rio Vista, 12% Sanford & Benedict. Sta. Rita Hills is home to some of the planet’s finest Pinot Noir vineyards. The Pinot Noir grape excels at expressing its natural environment, making each vineyard distinctive in its own way. Envision gives life to the special sense of place that is the Sta. Rita Hills by bringing together the vineyards that best reflect this marine-swept appellation. Ken curates the best lots into an exceptional blend, representing a unique sensory image of Sta. Rita Hills Pinot Noir.
Production Notes
Abundant winter rainfall in 2017 helped ease a five-year drought in California, replenishing soils and leaching out any accumulated salts. Mild spring weather averted any frost issues, and set the stage for excellent bloom and set. A heat spike in early September sent grape sugars soaring toward ripeness and vintners hastened the pace to keep up. Cool temperatures quickly returned, and remained cool for the rest of the harvest season. Yields ranged from average to up to 50% below average, resulting in excellent concentration and intensity in the fruit. Grapes for this blend were harvested between August 29 and September 6.
Winemaker Notes
Pinot Noir clusters for this wine were hand sorted before being de-stemmed and gravity fed to fermenters. The must was immediately chilled for a pre-fermentation cold soak where the most beneficial extraction of color, aroma and flavor occurs. During fermentation, concentration was enhanced by gently punching down the cap several times per day. The wine aged 17 months in French oak barrels, six months longer than our Sta. Rita Hills blend. There was 36% new French oak in the barrel mix and the wine was bottled unfiltered on April 3, 2019
| Vintage |
2017 |
| Wine Style |
Red Wine |
| Varietal |
100% Pinot Noir |
| Appellation |
Sta. Rita Hills |
| Acid |
6.0 g/L |
| PH |
3.48 |
| Alcohol % |
14.3 |
| Size |
750 ml |
