2015 Adastra Vineyard Pinot Noir, Los Carneros

Adastra is a California Certified Organic vineyard situated in the very heart of the Los Carneros appellation. Located in a low spot with cool air flow and very thin, relatively light clay-loam soils, it is a site with naturally low vigor. The inherently low yields produce extraordinary fruit from vines that require little in the way of manipulation, a hallmark of an exceptional vineyard. Chris Thorpe and his son-in-law Edwin Richards do an incredible job of managing this vineyard that produces wines unlike most Los Carneros Pinot noirs.

2015 was the fourth year of drought in California; the lack of winter rains so many years in a row resulted in very scant yields and thus, considerable concentration in the fruit. Weather during the growing season was wonderfully mild. Harvest was the earliest and fastest in recent memory.

This impressive Pinot has beautiful aromas of red currant, granite, cherry vanilla and rose petals with fascinating accents of celery seed, paprika, clay and evergreen boughs. The mouthfeel is masculine, savory, meaty and unctuous with flavors of red plum, cola, strawberry and spice.