Winemaking Update

We wrapped up the 2023 harvest in the beginning of November, marking the conclusion of what some have deemed, ‘the vintage of a lifetime.’ This milestone was quickly followed by the excitement of receiving outstanding scores for our 2021 vintages from the renowned wine critic James Suckling (check out our recent accolades). Encouraged by this recognition, we shifted our attention to bottling the remaining 2021 wines and waxing our 2021 Circle Hill featured in your release this month.

January kicked off with a busy start as we hosted the annual barrel trial meetup at Pine Ridge Vineyards. This event took place in our Cabernet Caves, offering a unique and enlightening experience for our fellow vintners to sample a single wine aged in different types of barrels from a variety of coopers. The barrel trial is an immersive educational experience, providing insights into how each barrel type imparts distinct nuances and characters to the wine. Hosting this event is a great honor for our crew and underscores our commitment to innovation and excellence in winemaking.

In this month’s shipment, we’re excited to present our 2021 Circle Hill Cabernet Sauvignon, a symbol of our winemaking excellence. This second vintage from our estate vineyard has earned a 98 point rating from James Suckling, ranking #43 in his top 100 Wines of the USA. Originating from Block 2, planted with Clone 33, this wine boasts a weighty, mouth-filling profile with a distinct velvety texture. This gently sloping block is also instrumental in crafting our iconic FORTIS, underscoring its foundational role in our portfolio.

The second wine featured in this release is the 2021 Atlas Peak Cabernet Sauvignon. Sourced from Atlas Peak in Napa Valley, this wine exhibits a deep color, with richly textured tannins, and integrated spice nuances from the new French oak barrels. The unique character and quality of this wine are due to the cooler temperatures, long sun exposure, and volcanic soils at Atlas Peak, resulting in small yields of exceptional Cabernet Sauvignon.

Last but certainly not least, we’re releasing the 2021 Malbec. Malbec is planted in four of our estate vineyards and traditionally plays a supporting role enriching our Cabernet Sauvignon. The quality of the juice has inspired us to give it the spotlight it deserves. This vintage marks my inaugural journey with this variety at Pine Ridge Vineyards, from harvest through to bottling and I’m excited to share it with you.

Josh Widaman
Estate Winemaker

Josh Widaman
Estate Winemaker

 Viticulture Update

The 2021 Circle Hill Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon featured this month is the second vintage we’ve produced from our Single Vineyard Cabernet Sauvignon series at Pine Ridge. I’ve touched on this vineyard in last year’s newsletter with the first vintage and feel it’s important to share again why this vineyard is so unique. Located approximately a mile north of our winery in the esteemed Stags Leap District AVA, Circle Hill has been a source for key elements in both FORTIS and our Stags Leap District Cabernet. Now, earning its distinction as a vineyard designate, Circle Hill proudly steps into the spotlight with its own dedicated wine.

Circle Hill is really two vineyards in one. Nestled on the western flank of the Silverado Trail, this terrain is a hill cascading into level grounds. Its name is inspired by the aerial view – an amphitheater-like hill with terraces spiraling to a 360° summit. Circle Hill draws grapes from each block including Block 2. Positioned furthest from the Silverado Trail, Block 2 presents a microcosm of Circle Hill’s soil diversity. A transformation from Malbec to Cabernet Sauvignon Clone 33 years ago marked a new era for these vines. The first harvest from these grafted vines left an impression with their irresistible grapes. It’s no surprise that Block 2 has become a foundation for our esteemed FORTIS wines. The vineyard is divided into six blocks, and it’s not too hard to see how the blocks on the hill differ from those on the flats. The terraces comprise volcanic soils with well-draining sand, rocks and clay. Soils on the flats are mostly bale clay loam studded with round river rocks. Because these blocks retain little water, we irrigate more frequently but with less volume.

The journey of Circle Hill, from its diverse terroir to each nurtured vine, reflects our crew’s commitment to excellence in viticulture. We look forward to sharing the fruits of our labor with you, as each bottle encapsulates the essence of our dedication and the unique character of Circle Hill.

Cheers!

Gustavo Aviña
Viticulture Director