5 - 2014 Moniker Pinot Noir, Mendocino County, 750 ml
2014 Moniker Pinot Noir, Mendocino County
89 points - Wine Enthusiast
Moniker Pinot Noir is a big, dark-hued wine sourced from three cool-climate Mendocino County vineyards, each imparting their own flavors: earth from Anderson Valley, intense berry from Redwood Valley and rhubarb and potpourri from Potter Valley. We fermented a portion of the grapes in macro-bins, punching down by hand for wine of high color and intensity to contrast with the savory nature of pumped-over tank lots. A German yeast strain supported the wine’s dark fruit profile while native yeasts contributed bright fruit and forest floor aromatics. Malolactic fermentation and the boldness of American oak lend sumptuousness and spice to this strong and expressive vintage.
Aromas of violet, rosemary, and raspberry with a hint of lavender over a bed of cherries with fine-grained tannin and fresh but hidden acid.
Specs
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Appellation: Mendocino County
TA: 0.536 g/l
pH: 3.7
Aging: Aged 18 months in 25% new American oak, 10% 1 year old American oak and 65% neutral French and American oak barrels.
Bottling Date: June 2016
Alcohol: 14.5%