AROMA: crushed black cherry, red licorice, slate
FLAVOR: kirsch, coastal berries, corriander
FOOD PAIRINGS: braised pork shoulder, laquered short rib, charred eggplant
VINIFICATION: 3.2 T of Swan Clone + .5 T of Clone 115 picked on Aug 26 & Sept
6th. Both lots fermented on wild yeasts in small open-top tanks, 33%
whole cluster. A 4-day cold soak preceded a 14-day spontaneous
fermentation. Pumpovers used to produce a gentle infusion. Aged 10
months in barrel (20% new French oak). Bottled unfined/unfiltered.
SITE: Lejano is Spanish for "distant" or "far away," which aptly
characterizes the remote Sonoma Coast vineyards we source from.
These fringy sites are situated 5-14 miles from the Pacific Ocean on a
series of ridgelines and/or valleys at 400-700 ft — placing them at
the fog line. These diverse soils of sandy clay loam are strewn with
fossilized seashells. The extreme microclimate requires a steady
temperament and a willingness to work with low yields.
NOTES: We went back to Pocket Canyon in 2024. A fellow winemaker we know from Punchdown Cellars farms it organically for Anthill Farms and LIOCO exclusively. This sweet little vineyard gave us pea-sized berries and a gusher of sour red fruit in 2023. The site is planted with prized Swan clone on a steep slope enclosed by redwoods in a fog-choked canyon west of Forestville. It's dry-farmed by default because the coyotes chew on the drip lines, rendering them ineffective. Micro yields and intense concentration result. The other component in the wine is Sealift Vineyard on the West Sonoma Coast near Annapolis. Just a few miles from the Pacific, Sealift is constantly lashed by ocean winds and fog and provides a savory, saline quality that marries well with the red-fruit notes. The wine showcases what we love about Pinot Noir from the Sonoma Coast — energy, mouthwatering acidity, and signature tone.
