Tassajara Pinot Noir 2022

Red Cherry, Plum Leaf, Red Plum, Wild Blackberry, Vanilla and Anise

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Sustainably grown in California’s Monterey County, this wine benefits from a markedly cooler climate thanks to high-elevation vineyard sites and the maritime influence of the Monterey Bay. In addition, the maritime breezes serve another purpose, as the winery has recently converted to 100% renewable wind power! The Scheid family, second generation winegrowers in Monterey, focus on a mix of old-fashioned viticulture and modern advances in order to minimize their carbon footprint without sacrificing quality.

Several factors set this wine apart from its contemporaries. Apart from the sustainable practices listed above, the Scheid family do not focus on single-varietal viticulture. Instead, multiple varieties are cultivated side by side, sometimes varying from one vine to the next! This age-old practice of “field blending” increases overall complexity of the finished wine, and naturally adds color, tannin, and acidity without resorting to chemical manipulation. As such, though Pinot Noir is the dominant variety, this wine contains small amounts of Chardonnay, Tempranillo, Tannat, and Petite Sirah. All fruit is harvested at the same time and co-fermented in stainless steel. Once dry, the resulting wine is racked to a mix of neutral and second-use French oak barrels for 12 months on average before bottling. - J.P.