Healdsburg Crush is this weekend. Lots to explore in one square. Here are the producers with organic vine wines-some of the best in the county.
PINOT NOIR - MENDOCINO
From Mendocino’s cooler climate Anderson Valley, this Roederer owned estate offers top tier Pinots from its organic and biodynamic estate (Dach vineyard) vines. An all estate organic producer. Everything they make is organically grown.
PINOT NOIR - SONOMA COUNTY
DuMOL Russian River Valley, Green Valley (one vineyard in transition)
One of California’s very best Pinot houses, you will be amazed by the wines from their new estate vines, which are in transition to organic certification (after practicing organics on the estate). Uniquely, they grow their grapes at high density spacing (meter by meter spacing, requiring a lot of handwork), a technique often used in Burgundy.
Ernest Vineyards, Sonoma Coast (and Freestone-Occidental) (Only the estate vineyards are organic)
Newly certified organic on their Sonoma Coast estates. They’re advocating for a new AVA - Freestone-Occidental – to differentiate their estates area from the West Sonoma Coast or the less descriptive Sonoma Coast. Don’t miss their Sonoma estate wines. (Those are the organically grown ones). Spend more time with the wines in their tasting room, right on the Healdsburg square, to learn more.
Merry Edwards, Russian River Valley (one vineyard in transition)
Is a bolder style of Pinot Noir for you? Then try the Merry Edwards’ Meredith Pinot Noir. Edwards loved Clone 37, which produces a bigger flavor profile. Tasting room staff sometimes call it a “Pinot for Cab lovers.”
Now owned by Roederer, the winery also makes a Dach vineyard Pinot (from Domaine Anderson’s biodynamic vines in Mendocino’s Anderson Valley).
Here are my notes from the 2021 vintage of Meredith:
Aged in French oak (55% new). The flagship wine from a mix of clones. A bold Pinot Noir with Bing cherry on the nose and black cherry and dark chocolate on the palate. Finishes long.
(Their other vineyards are not farmed organically–only Meredith, their 20 acre flagship vineyard, for now.)
Panther Ridge, Petaluma Gap
From a dry hilly site, Suzanne Farver, a former lawyer and an avid art collector, coaxes delicious small lots of Pinot Noir. Choose from the estate Pinot, the reserve Pinot or a rosé.
Ram’s Gate, Carneros (estate wines only)
A third of their wines come from their 28 acres of organic estate vines–Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc and Pinot Noir. Joe Nielsen assumed the helm in 2018 and oversaw the organic conversion. The winery is owned by O’Neill, which is gravitating more of its production across its various brands to organic options.
SPARKLING WINE
Amista Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley AVA
Look for the usual - Blanc de Blanc - and the unusual - Sparkling Syrah - from this Dry Creek producer. WinemakerAshley Herzberg and vineyard manager Paco Mendoza along with Slow Wine enthusiast estate director Brian Shapiro collaborate to create fun wines and a great atmosphere at their estate. Sparkling wines will be in demand to celebrate the upcoming holidays, spritz up a hot late summer day, or just for everyday enjoyment.
RHONES
Amista Vineyards, Dry Creek Valley AVA
They’re not just bubbleheads at Amista - they make climate appropriate Rhones in this hot, sunny region. Look for Grenache, Mourvedre and Syrah, perfect for fall and winter pairings. All organic estate grapes.
WHITE WINES
See Ernest Vineyards and Ram’s Gate above for Chardonnay. Ram’s Gate also has Pinot Blanc.
No comments:
Post a Comment