Crafting our Small Town blend inspires us every year as we celebrate the unique and gorgeous character of fruit grown out in Freestone, perhaps our favorite region for Sonoma County Pinot Noir. The mission is to craft a grand and complex cuvée that highlights one of the most thrilling areas in CA viticulture.
Beginning with a beautiful foundation from Michael Valentine and Cleary Ranch Vineyards, in 2015, we added a proper dose of Rayhill Vineyard (bottled on its own in 2014 as our Barrel Climber Pinot). The 2015 Rayhill introduced a second, brighter-fruited clone to round out the spicy, earthy wildness that is this vineyard’s signature. To this we added 25% from a far-west Petaluma Gap site called Grand Vent and 14% from further inside the Russian River Valley.
The resulting wine features all the diverse aspects of the Sonoma Coast region we admire so much in one very complete package: Beautifully delicate yet persistent fruit, a touch of both sweet and exotic spices, freshness and full flavor, and above all else, everything in harmony. About 25% whole-cluster fermentation and 35% carefully chosen new French oak complete the ensemble to produce another Pinot Noir for the ages. Give this wine about a year in the cellar and then enjoy for years to come!
DRINKING WINDOWS
Prime drinking: mid 2018 through 2023 Graceful ageability: 2024+
VINEYARDS
30% Michael Valentine, 25% Grand Vent, 16% Rayhill, 15% John Cleary, 14% Stiling
Direct sales are allocated exclusively to EK Allocation List members at a 10% discount. Orders of 6+ bottles save an additional 50% off shipping. New releases ship twice a year, once in the spring and again in the fall. Join EK Allocation List
CUSTOMIZED ALLOCATIONS
You may customize your spring and fall allocations any way you like, from 0–12 bottles of each wine. (Small-lot and list-only wines will have lower limits.) To modify your allocations, click on MY ALLOCATION above. Join EK Allocation List
REORDERS
Wines often sell out at or close to release, so we encourage making the most of your spring and fall allocations. As long as wine remains, you are welcome to reorder online through our EK Special Order store. Or contact John Gillis at john@erickentwines.com or 415.244.9453.
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