2023 Mariah Vineyards Pinot Noir

The Growing Season

The 2023 Mendocino County harvest was atypical and fairly unique, but in a good way.  Grape ripening was delayed by 2-3 weeks due to a slow start and a cooler than usual spring and summer. We saw a mix of reds and whites being harvested simultaneously. However, the longer hang times and cooler temperatures produced one of the best vintages seen in the last 20 years with grape quality being at what we consider exceptional levels.  Yields ranged from just about average in some Mendocino County AVAs to much higher than normal in other areas, but the constant was the outstanding quality of the fruit.  The final analysis has shown an ideal balance between acidity and sugars, with the wines exhibiting dynamic complexity, abundant aromatics and a wonderful depth of flavors.

Winemaking

This lovely Pinot Noir is a combination of clones 115, Pommard, and 667 and we used a significant amount of whole cluster fruit which makes this wine ethereal and spicy with a delicate texture that eases over the palate. This wine was barrel fermented and has edges more towards the style of Burgundy than the fruit forward Pinots of California with a beautiful richness that is balanced out by the naturally high acidity that occurs in this 2400 ft. vineyard. 

The Land

The Mariah Vineyard is high up in the mountains that separate central Mendocino County from the coast. This vineyard sits at 2400 ft. elevation and is just a handful of miles away from the Pacific Ocean, near the town of Manchester, CA.  You can actually see the ocean from the vineyard itself, and while this location understandably provides a cooling influence on the grapes, these lower temperatures are moderated by the fact that the vineyard is so high up it is above the fog most days, giving this area the nickname “Islands in the Sky” (because from the air all you see are mounds of green vines poking through the clouds). Consequently, this elevation protects the grapes from typical coastal problems, like excessive moisture in the bunches which can lead to mildew. The maritime climate combined with high elevation sunshine creates an extended growing season so the fruit has ample time to develop ideal acidity and complexity. This is a very special vineyard with many unique and interesting qualities that all combine to produce a Pinot Noir that is as special as the place it comes from.