new pinot source for 2008 harvest

One door closes, another door opens.  Two weeks ago, we canceled a contract and refused to accept 5 tons of Pinot Noir grapes from a new source in Mendocino.  Painful as that decision was, especially in a low yield, frost damaged year, it was a decision that had to be made.  This left us well under budget for Pinot Noir this harvest.  A few phone calls later and a new door opened in the form of Manchester Ridge Vineyard, located above the Anderson Valley in Mendocino, in a new appellation called Mendocino Ridge.  The vineyard is planted to Chardonnay and Pinot Noir and lies just 4 miles from the Pacific Ocean about 2000’ above sea level, well above the 1200' fog line.  Wineries sourcing Pinot Noir from this up and coming vineyard include Auteur, Kosuge and Tandem.  We brought in a couple tons of Pinot Noir from this exciting new vineyard this past Tuesday.  The fruit looked great and was harvested at the peak of ripeness.  This brings us to two new vineyards in Mendocino this year, both being terrific sources of high quality Pinot Noir.  --by Tim