2017 Pinot Noir Wendling Vineyard

We’ve kept a close eye on Wendling Vineyard from the moment it was planted. Though the site is still young, it has emerged at the forefront of Anderson Valley winemaking in the decade since it was carefully developed with the specific objective of crafting unparalleled Pinot Noir. Soon, boutique wineries were clamoring for Wendling fruit, including preeminent producers Littorai and Copain. The key to Wendling’s exceptional reputation is the steady cooling that funnels down the Navarro River from the Pacific Ocean. This natural air conditioning encourages slow, measured ripening, creating the framework for complex Pinot Noir without the elevated alcohol that often accompanies extended hang time. Wendling’s location was especially advantageous in 2017, when a three-day heat wave prior to harvest posed considerable risk to inland vineyards. Not so at this isolated coastal outpost, where the grapes exhibited Wendling’s characteristic intense fruit profile, purity and precision.