94 Points -
"Pouring a deep ruby, the 2021 Pinot Noir Muldune Trail is more extracted with kirsch, polished leather, lavender, and pine. Full-bodied, this is the most powerful wine in this lineup, while having a luxurious feel, a velvety texture, and plushness throughout. Offering notes of turned soil and wooded earth, with meaty berry fruit and black tea, it’s a substantial wine but is well-made." - Audrey Frick, jebdunnuck.com, July 2023
Tasting Notes
This mountain-grown wine expresses the ripe fruits of the warm days and the acid balance from the cool nights. Vibrant fruit aromas of blueberry, raspberry, and plum are the hallmarks of the aromatics along with a subtle cedar/cigar box note. These aromatics lead to intense flavors of berries and spice in this structured yet lively Pinot Noir.
Historic Acclaim
2021: 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck.com, July 2023
2019: 94 points, Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, July 2022
2019: 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck.com, August 2022
2017: 93 points Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Apr 2020
2017: 92 points, Jeb Dunnuck.com, May 2020
2017: 93+ points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Feb 2020
2016: 94 points, Jeb Dunnuck.com, June 2019
2016: 95 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Oct 2018
2015: 95 points, Jeb Dunnuck.com, June 2018
2015: 94+ points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Dec 2017
2014: 94 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Oct 2016
2013: 94 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Oct 2016
2013: 90-92 points Antonio Galloni, Vinous, Jan 2015
2012: 93 points Robert Parker’s The Wine Advocate, Dec 2014
Vineyard & Vintage Character
In the Anderson Valley of Mendocino County the local residents speak an obscure dialect of English known as Boontling, which developed in the late 1800s. The “Muldune Trail” was a term used in Anderson Valley lore often describing the road traversing the ridge to Ukiah. There are other definitions of hitting the “Muldune Trail” that we will leave to the reader to discover! Our blocks within this estate-owned vineyard are located in the hills above Anderson Valley just below a 2,000 foot elevation, making it our highest elevation site. Planted to Dijon clones 115 and 667, we see another expression of Anderson Valley Pinot Noir that is more masculine than our Velvet Sisters bottling.
Wine Details
Oak: 100% French oak, 27% new
Time in oak: 15 months
Yeast: Native
TA: 5.6 g/L
pH: 3.51
Alcohol: 14.4%
Cases produced: 248
Unfined and unfiltered