The 2021 Cougar Rock Vineyard Pinot Noir exudes aromas of ripe cherry, red apple and hints of graphite and dried fennel. Cougar Rock is always our most smooth and silky Pinot and most delicate in color which we attribute to the large amount of calcarious chalky rocks that are interspersed throughout the block. The mineral tones from the volcanic soil are apparent, intertwined with a dusty earthiness, rose petals; balanced by a fresh vibrant core and smooth elegant tannins.
All lots of Pinot Noir undergo an extended cold soak until native yeast begin a spontaneous fermentation in open-top fermenters, where the grapes are punched down by hand once to twice per day. For Cougar Rock Pinot Noir only the free run juice is used Our small lot fermentations, with 50% whole cluster, take upwards of a month before going to barrel for their extended aging. Our Pinot Noir remains in 100% new Damy 500L puncheons for 18 months and 12 months in bottle before release.
The 2021 vintage was a classic Northern California vintage. Scarce rains in the spring prompted an earlier start to the vintage, while mild temperatures throughout the growing season allowed for prolonged flavor development and created ideal ripening conditions. 2021 was an excellent vintage that made wines with beautiful intensity and great structure. We harvested Cougar Rock Vineyard Pinot Noir on September 14th at 22.8° brix.
The Antinori California vineyard is known to brick & mortar as Cougar Rock Vineyard, the named for the first sight of the craggy rock feature at the highest point of the estate by Piero Antinori in 1966. Cougar Rock Vineyard was the sole source for our inaugural wines in 2011 and we produce them every year. Nestled from 1,450 to 1,800 feet above sea level, the vineyard lies due east of Yountville, high up in the Vaca Mountain Range of the eastern hills in Napa Valley. Within the range rests Foss Valley, the original throughway from the coast to the Sacramento Valley for the early settlers in California. In the heart of Foss Valley, the 1200-acre estate encompasses the furthest eastward portion of the Atlas Peak AVA in Napa Valley.
