Oppenlander Vineyard, Mendocino County was planted in 1997 with Dijon clones of Pinot Noir to 20 acres of Surprise Valley ranchlands. In a natural prairie opening in the northern California redwoods, the property was homesteaded by the Shandels in the 1860s. Bill, Wanda and family still live in the original log home the family first built. The vineyard is just a stones throw from the tiny one store town of Comptche, 40 minutes north of the Savoy Vineyard and at a slightly higher elevation. The blend is comprised of 3 different clones (Pommard, #114 & #115) from three different sections of the vineyard. A gentle slope runs east and west tilting the vines towards the setting sun. We selected these 3 clones in order to build complexity and overall richness in this gorgeous wine. Oppenlander is always the last vineyard to be picked. This additional hang time on the vine produces the signature blue and black fruit characteristics Oppenlander is known for.

Numbers, Sonoma Coast, Pinot Noir is a two vineyard cuvee comprised of only numbered clones #667, #115 and #114. Sonoma coast appellation is noted for its consistent morning fog and pleasant temperatures. One vineyard resides just off the Pacific Coast and has sandy gold ridge soil. The other vineyard sits a bit more inland and has heavy adobe clay soil. Both are hillside properties with wonderful sun exposure encompassing five different sub sections. The clones for this exclusive bottling were selected for their intense and very rich flavor, color and weight profile. This Pinot Noir is packed with fruit producing full flavors of black plums, massive red cherries, passionate persimmons and a hint of clove and fresh ground nutmeg. The vineyard sits high on the ridge-top where the vines are exposed to the winds that bring the Pacific maritime air and fog. The terroir is defined by a thin loamy-clay with a volcanic subsoil.

Savoy Vineyard, Anderson Valley is located in a wonderfully cool yet sunny section of the Anderson Valley. The vineyard has a gentle slope and rolling hills that tilt the vines toward the setting sun, maximizing the intensity this vineyard has to offer. The tonnage per acre is one and one half tons to two tons. Each section of the vineyard was picked separately ensuring peak ripeness. Our wine is deep in color, voluptuous with blackberries and blackcherries A blend of five clones (115, 114, Martini, Wadensville and Pommard) from six different vineyard sections, offer depth, richness, complexity and character. Each section, hand selected by Stewart, has a unique soil type and ripening cycle. The fruit profile ranges from blue to black, with layered essence of earth, truffles and spice. The influence of the coastal fog and the silty-clay alluvium gives delicate aromatics of candied dark fruits, rose petals, brown spices along with silky tannins and firm acidity.

Two Sisters Vineyard, Russian River Valley is comprised primarily of the noble Martini clone with a few of the fashionable clone #667 vines added in recent years. The original vines were planted in 1953 when Martini was prominent and prized for its robust fruit and spice characteristics. The vineyard tilts subtlety downward adding a signature nuance of red raspberry and strawberry flavors with a touch of black tea in the background. The entire vineyard, just 499 plants in total, which would be about a row of an average sized vineyard, yielded just a few barrels of beautiful Russian River Valley Pinot Noir. The vineyard has decades of maturity which lends its hand in achieving amazing flavors and finesse. Each vine has a unique shape as the years have transformed them into gnarled works of art. She is tiny in size but grand in flavor and aromatics.