2021 Mes Filles Pinot Noir
Single Vineyard Series
Varietal: 100% Pinot Noir
Appellation: 100% Sonoma Coast
pH: 3.76
TA: 6.3
Oak: 33% new French
Originally planted under the expert guidance of Sonoma’s legendary winemaker Greg LaFollette in 1998, the Mes Filles (French for “my daughters”) vineyard is one of the more extraordinary places to grow Pinot Noir in Sonoma County. It technically sits on land overlapping the Sonoma Coast and Russian River AVAs, but we choose to use the “Sonoma Coast” appellation due to the behavior of the terroir here. The site is perched on a hill near the fog line, and as such stays wet and cool throughout the year. Wind formed from the Petaluma Gap constantly pummel the vines, causing the fruit to grow thicker skins, resulting in beautiful tannin structure. Cold air and wind also keep yields tiny. This benefits the fruit profile of the wine, pushing an array of brighter and darker berried fruits across the palate.
The 2021 is quite complex. There is a certain smoked meat/gaminess component to the nose that plays well off the more restrained brighter berried fruit profile. 25% stem inclusion during fermentation created structure and pleasant stemminess, which adds layers everywhere. The smokiness on the nose pushes seamlessly through to the palate, and blackberry and cherry cola also appear. The finish is round and soft, with acidity there in support of silky tannin and ripe fruit flavors.
