This justifiably famous site produces wines that are enigmatically powerful, yet detailed, nuanced and complex. With power to spare, this site tends to revel in opulent, large scale versions of Pinot Noir. The 2017 vintage will delight fans of this larger-than-life style. The wine is round and dense, with layers of blue fruit and spice. The tannins are broad, coating and resolved, creating a creamy and supple mid-palate, with a long and detailed finish that keeps the flavors pumping. The typical high acidity found at this cool site keeps the wine fresh, pure and elegant.This wine is a bit tight in texture, stiffened by firm tannins typical of the vineyard that wrap around vivid red- and black-cherry flavors. While full bodied, it's not at all fat, but offers a feeling of concentration held slightly in check. Producer Information Patz & Hall is a Sonoma-based wine producer, specializing in the production of small-lot Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from single vineyards around California. The collection is sourced from more than 30 different vineyards in Napa Valley, Carneros, Russian River Valley, Mendocino County, Sonoma Coast and Santa Lucia Highlands. The estate was established in 1988 by James Hall, Anne Moses, and Donald and Heather Patz. Collectively, they established contracts with growers around northern California to create a full portfolio of site specific wines. In the vineyard, grapes are hand-picked to preserve phenolics and prevent excess oxidation. Fermentation takes place in both stainless steel and French oak barrels. Patz & Hall has a unique stave wood program where it dries, seasons, and ages its own Burgundian oak staves for three years before the barrels are coopered, around 18 months longer than normal. The percentage of new oak the winery uses on each wine varies between 50 and 70 percent. In 2016, Patz & Hall was purchased by Chateau Ste. Michelle of which in turn was purchased by Sycamore Partners Managment in 2021. A total of around 20,000 cases of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are produced annually.
