Carlisle
For the Pinot Noir, we were lucky enough to source some incredible fruit from the immaculately-farmed Martaella Vineyard, situated half way between Montafi Ranch and Papera Ranch in the Russian River Valley. We used two clones for our Pinot, the tiny-berried Clone 96, originating from a vineyard near Chambertin, and the ever popular Pommard clone. The Pommard portion was fermented with 50% whole cluster while the 96 was fully destemmed. Aged in 40% new French oak, a single Boutes Grande Réserve barrel, known for highlighting terroir and fruit without adding flavors and aromas of wood and toast, and bottled unfined and unfiltered. Only 61 cases produced. What does it taste like? Red silk! Kendall always says she likes Pinot that tastes like Pinot, i.e., she doesn’t like Pinots with a lot of makeup (toasty oak and extreme ripeness). She likes structure and acidity in her Pinots but also expects them to be very red fruited, with a silken, caressing texture and only modest alcohol. Is Kendall a happy camper? You bet she is!