Similar to our Barrel Climber series, we select the wines for The Pianist based purely on a few special casks that really rock our world. Well… wines that rock Hanna's world, to be more precise. A trained classical pianist since she was a kid, Hanna is now officially our Co-Winemaker right alongside Kent and The Pianist is her personal passion project. She spends so much of her time and energy in the cellar these days, we may have to start calling her the “barrel whisperer."
For this release, Hanna selected barrels exclusively from Grand Vent vineyard in the Petaluma Gap. Hanna has been smitten with this amazing property from the get-go, and since 2012 it has been a key contributor to our Small Town Pinot. The valley fog, strong winds, chilly nights and proximity to the coast result in fruit with natural acidity and earthy, spicy, complex flavors.
2015 was an exceptional year along the Sonoma Coast and this took its sweet time to ferment, spending 30 days on the skins. Along with a diverse clonal assortment, a bit of whole cluster in the fermentation and the perfect oak regimen (Kent and Hanna’s 5-year barrel trials really coming to play here), it all added up to some vinous magic. Fans of the 2014 vintage, you are in for another treat; be sure not to miss this!
Intensely and exotically perfumed with bright red fruit, dried rose petals, sandalwood and earth, The Pianist invites serious contemplation based on the aromatics alone. Flavors follow through seamlessly with pinpoint fruit and acid balance, a beautiful medium-weight body and a long, savory finish. As with our other 2015 Pinots, we feel this warrants some cellar time and should evolve nicely for many years. An Allocation List Member exclusive, just 70 cases are available. Really special stuff!
DRINKING WINDOWS
Prime drinking: late 2017 through 2023 Graceful ageability: 2024+
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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