Two Creeks Pinot Noir blends grapes from the Annahala and Apple Barn Estate vineyards in Mendocino County’s Anderson Valley, an appellation renowned for its superb Pinots. Proximity to the Pacific Ocean has a dramatic cooling effect that promotes slow, even ripening. Closer to the coast and sheltered by trees, Annahala is the cooler and foggier vineyard, while Apple Barn is more exposed and enjoys warmer afternoons; both sites share an overlapping mix of nine superior Pinot Noir clones. Grapes were harvested at night to preserve freshness, then hand-sorted and de-stemmed into small open-top tanks for a cold-soak. Fermentation was initiated by native yeasts from the vineyard and completed after inoculation with a cultured yeast strain. Each of 16 vineyard block lots fermented separately, with a small percentage of stems to add spice and complexity. After fermentation, the free-run juice was transferred to French oak barrels, 41% new, for three months before blending. The blended wine aged another ten months in barrel before bottling.

Tasting Note

Aromas of sweet black cherry, raspberry, rose petal and violet carry over onto a fresh palate of raspberry and flavors. Round, silky tannins support the bright fruit, and a touch of minerality complements the delicious red fruit expression over a smooth finish.

Food Pairing

Delicious with seared tuna or swordfish, pork or lighter red meats.

Technical Data
APPELLATION: Mendocino County
Unique Selling Points
  • A Burgundian-style Pinot Noir from Anderson Valley, a premier cool-climate AVA
  • Blended from two Estate vineyards, Annahala (78%) and Apple Barn (22%)
  • Each block is fermented and aged 3 months separately before blending then 10 months in barrel

About the Grape

Pinot Noir
In France, makes a silky, deceptively powerful wine of elegant, complex aromas and subtle, red fruit flavors, with earthy, floral, mushroom and mineral notes. In California, shows ripe, sweet characters.
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