Wine Profile
Tasting Notes
Aromas of leather, vanilla, Bing cherry, eucalyptus, and warm baking spice rise from the glass. On the palate, this Pinot Noir unfolds in silky, layered waves—plum, raspberry, boysenberry, fig jam, and shiitake mushroom, with a strong mid-palate of cherry cola and clove. The influence of French oak adds subtle spice and polish. Though light in color, this wine is remarkably complex, with round texture, balanced acidity, and a finish that lingers gracefully.
Vineyard Notes
The 2022 harvest was a test of patience and adaptability. Cardiac Hill came in during the final warm stretch of October—one of the later picks for Pinot Noir that year. Just after harvest, the weather dropped into the 30s and 40s, and fermentation slowed dramatically. What’s usually a three-week process stretched to 55 days—our longest Pinot Noir maceration to date.
Fermented with 75% whole clusters, this wine developed slowly and steadily. With the caps too firm for traditional punchdowns, we used a forklift-mounted punch tool until we could bring the vats indoors and warm the space. Once conditions improved, I transitioned to délestage and foot treading. We pressed in mid-December—not at dryness, but because we were running out of time before winter set in.
The wine was aged 18 months in French oak barrels, 20% new, and racked off the heavy lees in the spring. Malolactic fermentation finished the following summer. Light in color, yes—but the depth and elegance in this wine are remarkable. It’s the kind of Pinot Noir that surprises you: supple, spice-laced, and far more complex than expected from such a late vintage.
Production Notes
Grapes were harvested from the Cardiac Hill Block in late October 2022. Fermented with 75% whole clusters in open-top vats. Cold fall temperatures extended maceration to 55 days. Early cap management included pumpovers, followed by délestage and foot treading once vats were moved indoors and warmed. Pressed mid-December before dryness due to falling temperatures. Aged for 18 months in French oak barrels, 20% new. Racked off heavy lees in spring. Malolactic fermentation completed in late summer. Bottled sterile filtered and unfined.
Winemaker Notes
This wine is a standout from the vintage. Even in a lighter year, Cardiac Hill delivered remarkable depth. There’s power and persistence here, wrapped in an elegant, silky frame. The aromatics are wild and beautiful—spice, cherry, earth—and the palate carries incredible detail and grace.
Food Pairing Notes
Pair with duck breast, mushroom risotto, soy-glazed salmon, or rosemary-lamb skewers. The wine’s savory depth and smooth texture also shine with aged cheeses, roasted root vegetables, or even cedar-plank grilled tofu.
Other Notes
This wine is built for graceful aging—enjoy now for its aromatic charm and textural finesse, or cellar through 2030 to reveal deeper layers. Part of our Single Block Series, Cardiac Hill represents our most site-driven, expressive bottlings.
