Editors’ Choice, Wine Enthusiast Feb 2023 issue
100% Pinot Noir in French oak for 11 months - 33% new
Ireland Family Wines was founded on March 1st, 2020, by Chris and Amy Ireland. Chris Ireland’s journey in wine was inspired by a visit to Napa and Sonoma CA in 1989. Shortly following that visit, he took a job as a bartender to pay for college, earning a bachelor’s degree in economics. After graduation, he began a career in sales, continuing to bartend evenings. Bartending led to a position as a wine buyer and building a Wine Spectator award-winning wine list. The spark of wonder in 1989 became a passion that grew into a vision with a goal to own a wine company and winery. Working to gain knowledge of the wine industry over twenty years, Chris held roles in sales and marketing at a wine distributor, importers, and national leadership roles with a Napa Valley winery. Through the challenges of 2020 and 2021, we produced our first two vintages, started developing a distribution network, and began shipping wine to retail in March 2022.
A dark ruby color in the glass. The nose delivers notes of cherry and clove. On the palate, the wine is voluptuous with flavors of pomegranate and black raspberry, finishing with silky tannins and mouth-watering acidity.
PRODUCTION: 945 cases
VARIETALS: 100% Pinot Noir
CLONES: 114, 115, 667, Pommard
AGING: 11 months French oak 33% new
COOPERAGES: Rousseau, Dargaud & Jaegle, Ermitage, Boutes
Wine Enthusiast | 94 pts