2013 WALT "Brown Ranch" Carneros Napa Valley Pinot Noir

Intense red/purple hue. Very elegant floral aromatics, followed by white pepper, raspberry, and warm baking spices. Displays very characteristic varietal typicity - or 'Pinot funk'. Intense strawberry flavors tie into lush, supple tannins on the mid palate - very soft, but well-structured with incredible length on the finish. Upon first glance, this wine appears to be very extracted, yet is delicate and well balanced.

Brown Ranch sits at the southern edge of the Congress Valley (Napa Carneros) at the base of the Mayacamas. Its' hillside location and elevation (200 ft above sea level) combined with the unique Haire Clay Loam soils containing cobbles/rock make it an exceptional growing place for Pinot Noir. The cool fog and ocean breezes coming in from the San Pablo Bay provide the perfect environment for this elegant yet concentrated wine.

"The vineyard is sandwiched between two of the most famous vineyards in the Carneros - Hyde and Hudson. It is located within the Carneros 'banana belt' - a slightly warmer area where the morning fog burns off earlier, warming the vineyard for a longer period of time than other sites within the appellation." Dominick Bianco, WALT Viticulturist