2020 Stoller Estate Pinot Noir

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

Over the last 25 years, our estate vineyard’s 108 meticulously farmed sections have become more expressive, each showing something unique and distinct. Our Estate Pinot Noir captures the nuances of our maturing Dijon and Wädenswil clone vines. Stoller Family Estate benefitted immensely from our warmer microclimate with the 2020 vintage, ripening numerous sections well ahead of the tragic wildfires that season. From those earlier ripening blocks, we were able to craft an elegant expression of what would have been a historic vintage. The aromatics are defined by a ferrous minerality, bright red fruit, and most notably dried and concentrated Bing cherries. The palate shows notes of rooibos tea and fresh tobacco leaf with plush tannins that lead to a lengthy black tea finish. This wine is a classic representation of the Dundee Hills. 

VINTAGE OVERVIEW 

The 2020 vintage will be one of the most memorable in our history. Rainfall during bloom coupled with cool temperatures set the stage for a historically low fruit set. The summer was delightfully moderate, and by the end of August, concentrated juice from tiny grape berries was intense with robust flavors. Harvest kicked off on August 28 and continued beautifully through Labor Day. Then, we experienced a freak windstorm that resulted in wildfires due to hot temperatures and arid conditions. Our team decided to continue with harvest to preserve our grapes. Meticulous sorting and attentive winemaking were essential to achieving our quality standards. We are fortunate to have some of the finest wine we can produce in bottle.

93 Points - Wine Spectator
91 Points - James Suckling