(96 Points) Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate, June 2023 The 2021 Pinot Noir Golden Mean is glossy and expressive this vintage. It comes from Pommard and Swan selection vines planted on east- and west-facing slopes, respectively. It begins with ringing tones of truffle, moss, allspice, cranberry and red cherry aromatics. The light-bodied palate is velvety and refreshing with a surprisingly concentrated core of perfumed fruit, and it has an expansive finish streaked with nuances of spice and earth.
Winery Notes
Tasting Notes Golden Mean is a mathematical term for the beautiful middle between two opposites, and this wine is so named because it is a blend of two distinctive clonal selections, Swan and Pommard. The Swan clone shines first with opening notes of delicate rose petals, strawberries, cranberries and a hint of violets, followed by more robust Pommard aromas of brambly blackberries fresh off the vine, with hints of iron and blood orange. The palate showcases an ethereal entry from the Swan and ends with the sublime texture of Pommard, but it’s impossible to tell where one ends and the other begins. This wine isn’t just a beautiful middle – it’s more than the sum of its parts.
Winemaking Notes Each block was picked by hand at night, and firm, cool clusters were delivered to the winery before sunrise. We hand-sorted and destemmed the fruit before transferring it into stainless steel tanks for five to ten days of cold maceration. Fermentation was guided by native yeast, and hand punch downs were tailored to how each tank tasted each day. The free run wine aged in French oak barrels, 43% new, for 15 months.
Vintage Notes 2021 was a dry, warm, even vintage, giving us wines with great intensity and harmony. Though we experienced record-low rainfall of 20 inches, a long way from our 65-inch average, it was plenty to fill our pond and irrigate our vines throughout the season. Budbreak occurred on the early side due to an unusually dry, warm winter, and this early trend continued throughout the season. Spring and summer remained dry and warm, though temperatures never spiked. This consistency, along with bountiful sunlight, allowed for even ripening across the vineyard. It was a smooth growing season and an ideal harvest, with all fruit picked at just the right moment and coming into the winery in a steady stream. The wines are remarkably dense and complex, with lots of structure, energy and delicate aromatics.
Blocks 5, 20 Clones Pommard 4, Swan
List Price: $150.00
Quantity in Stock: 5
add to cart continue shoppingYour shopping cart is empty!
Fri, May 10, 2024
"A man dies too young if he leaves any wine in his cellar." - Wine writer Andr&ea...
Fri, May 10, 2024
Wine Cave is Available for a Private Dining Experience The wine bar is only open for ...
Sat, May 11, 2024
God made Cabernet Sauvignon, whereas the devil made Pinot Noir. - Andre Tchelistcheff, Chief Winemaker at Beauli...
Sat, May 11, 2024
Wine Cave is Available for a Private Dining Experience The wine bar is only open for ...
Thu, May 16, 2024
Wine Bar Closed for Private Event - F
Thu, May 16, 2024
I like to drink wine more than I used to... Don Corleone, The Godfather I have been dri...
Fri, May 17, 2024
Wine Cave is Available for a Private Dining Experience The wine bar is on...
Fri, May 17, 2024
"Appreciating old wine is like making love to a very old lady. It is possible. It can even be enj...
Sat, May 18, 2024
"The cheapness of wine seems to be a cause, not of drunkenness, but of sobriety. ...People are seldom guilt...
Tue, May 21, 2024
“Someone said drink the water, but I will drink the wine / Someone said take a poor man, the rich don’t...