Fall Release Ryan Pinot Noir
2009

Winemaker’s Notes

The least primary of all our 2009 Pinot releases but possibly the most stylish, this wine is all about subtle nuanced complexity but also has the structure to evolve into something really special with at least five years in the bottle. Its firm tannins and precise acidity move the emphasis from overt fruit toward the earthy side of the pinot spectrum, as we would expect from this vineyard combination in this cool season. The aromatics take some swirling to coax from the glass but when they flow they have a uniqueness and signature found in only the finest Californian pinots. We opted to harvest the vineyard blocks that comprise this bottling a little earlier than previously and it’s this youthful signature that really drives the wine. If you enjoyed our 2006 Ryan bottling you will want to invest in this sibling. It takes the cool season nuance of the ’06 and adds additional layers of dark cocoa, violet and menthol to the mix alongside a richness of texture and back end power that are really compelling. This will be another great wine to follow for up to a decade.

Medium red that darkens with aeration; Floral aromas, intense cola, wild berries, baking spice, dusty cocoa powder and a hint of fresh mint. Red fruit entry then classic kirsch and deep raspberry flavors. Building richness and a darker fruit core with many earthy smoked meat nuances. Subtle complexity and a firm stony mineral finish. Drink between 2012 and 2020.

Andy Smith Viticulturist, Winemaker & Partner