2020 Eden Rift "Valliant" Pinot Noir, Central Coast, California, USA

ABOUT THIS WINE

Sourced exclusively from Eden Rift Vineyards in the Gavilan mountains, 20 miles from Monterey Bay, this wine is primarly comprised of “Dijon” clones - 115, 777 & 828. Vinified in separate lots, all the fruit was gently crushed, de-stemmed, and fermented in open-top tanks on native yeasts. Once pressed, the wine was transferred to French oak barrels from assorted coopers. Ultimately, the wine was barrel aged for ten months before being bottled in September.

ABOUT THIS PRODUCER

Located just 20 miles from the Monterey Bay, Eden Rift is the oldest continually producing vineyard in California. Planted in 1849 by Theophile Vache, the 120-acre estate rests on the San Andreas Faultline and is part of the Cienega Valley AVA. The winery is located just two miles from famed Pinot Noir producer Calera, whose founder Josh Jensen sought out the limestone and dolomite-rich soils. Before Josh, early vintners procured some of the first Pinot Noir planting in California at Eden Rift beginning in 1860. Post prohibition, the focus on Pinot Noir & Chardonnay was lost until Christian Pillsbury acquired the estate in 2016. Christian assembled a team of young industry professionals starting with winemaker Cory Waller to once again create some of California’s most vivid energetic Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The extreme terraces and diverse terroir in a single contiguous valley make California’s oldest estate vineyard its most exciting new project.