2022 Wayfarer 'The Estate' Pinot Noir

Aromas of wild raspberry, pomegranate, and violet integrate with savory notes of forest floor, tea leaf, and a hint of coastal salinity. The palate is medium-bodied and exceptionally vibrant, featuring a core of silken red fruit and a multi-layered texture. It displays ultrafine tannins and a racy acidity that leads to a long finish marked by a distinct stony minerality.

Winemaker Todd Pittman utilizes fruit from several distinct blocks on the estate. The grapes are hand-picked and fermented in small open-top tanks using native yeasts, with approximately 10% whole-cluster inclusion to add aromatic lift. The wine matures for fifteen months in French oak barrels (around 45% new). This careful regimen is designed to polish the natural power of the fruit while preserving the delicate floral and earthy nuances of the vineyard.

The fruit is grown at the Wayfarer Estate in the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA of the Sonoma Coast. The site is defined by its extreme proximity to the Pacific Ocean and its high elevation, sitting atop a ridge at 1,100 feet. The vines grow in goldridge and sandstone soils, struggling against the cooling fog and coastal winds. This rugged environment produces tiny berries with thick skins, resulting in a wine of immense concentration and bright structural tension.