Idlewild Cortese, Fox Hill Vineyard 2017 (750 ml)

This wine is a balance of texture in a lithe and demure format. The elevage in large Slovenien oak Botti retained great freshness while also framing the wine beautifully.

Lemon balm, chamomile, sage, orange peel, straw, and white tea are highlights of the aromas. The mouth feel is saline and viscous followed by driving acidity and firm phenolic power.

Idlewild has a relatively concise aim within a broad context: to produce wines of exceptional balance and beauty. It is a journey to pursue Italy’s Piedmont in the elevated hills of Mendocino County, and to find the sides of these varieties that are intriguing, delicious, and haunting.

Each wine is unique and treated as such, though the common thread is balancing depth and seriousness with vibrancy and joy. Emphasis is on the vineyard followed by minimalist winemaking techniques. While not dogmatic in practice, an honest and sustainable approach is fundamental in making wines of purity.