Updated May 10, 2025
The 2023 single vineyard Pinot Noirs were all bottled at the end of March. Although some were shipped to beat the summer heat for shipping, they are very much in bottle shock, and we will start checking in on them for an early view in mid-summer, expecting them to start opening up a bit more as we roll into the fall.
From the beginning the 2023 vintage has shown tremendous promise. After three short vintages we finally had a good fruit set in 2023. Flowering was a bit later than average, but after that the vineyards double-timed it right through to harvest about 2 weeks ahead of expected pick dates. Acid maturity was fantastic with lower malics in almost all the fruit, sugars stayed remarkably modest, skin tannins were very good, stems lignified quickly, and flavors developed quickly. We picked with a pace and have been happy with everything so far. Pinot Noirs will lean old-world and the whites are nervy and delicious. Somewhat reminiscent of 2019.
Aromatic whites released so far include theTsai vineyard Pinot Blanc, bright, refreshing, and juicy at 11.1% alcohol. Pinot Blanc naturally has a lovely textural element and this allows us to have such a low abv but the body to be enjoyable. Very refreshing now. The 2023 Whistling Ridge Riesling is very close ot a Trocken style, 2.8 g/l residual sugar and a pH of 2.97, the nose is full of quicksilver and woodland herbs. Hints of tangerine and Meyer lemon give the wine a very long finish. This is early in development and should be held for a few years.