Rootdown Pinot Noir, Cole Ranch 2023 (750 ml)

100% Pinot Noir

Right away you are met with perfectly ripe dark fig and Christmas spice. The grippiness of this Pinot is utterly enticing on the palate. Echinacea and vanilla are present despite 0 new oak presence with this wine. The high tones on this wine echo in the world of cran raspberry and bramble fruit.

Our Pinot blocks in Cole Ranch are our highest elevated vineyards and planted in the early 2000s and100% dry farmed. The Pinot is typically picked in early September in 2 passes between the Eastern and Western blocks. The combination of these blocks are a mix of Micca Schist and Maxwell Clay. We believe that the clone is Pommard #5 due to its flavor profile and darker, thicker skins of the berries. The heavy clay soils where the Pinot is grown gives this wine a denser mid palate than that of pinot coming from sandstone. This Pinot was 100% destemmed and fermened in 3 ton stainless steel tanks. Mike strives for a more gentle extraction in the finished wine by using predominately gentle pump overs in order to achieve more aromatics. Once the wine is dry the wine is aged in 40% Puncheon and 60% burgundy barrels, all neutral.

Cole Ranch
Our vineyard, Cole Ranch, is the smallest Appellation in the United States at 180 acres and 44 acres producing fruit. It sits inside of a terrarium-like microclimate and is tightly surrounded by multiple mountain ranges and hills with no other vineyards close by. Cooler and wetter than surrounding wine producing areas, its high elevation, drastic temperature swings and overall cooler climate leads to a longer growing season which preserves the acidity that is unique to Cole Ranch fruit. Cole Ranch hosts a terroir known for wines expressing vitality, earthiness, and electricity. When Mike acquired this vineyard in 2019, he began the stewardship of a vineyard that expresses its true self with grapes that thrive in its unique conditions. With steep terrain and a unique microclimate, Cole Ranch is particularly suited to growing Alpine grape varieties to create unique, thought provoking wines lead by terroir and texture.