EMERALD RIDGE
(Pinot Noir)

Few endeavors in our craft are more satisfying than working with a vineyard as it matures and develops the character of its land. Our Emerald Ridge Vineyard exemplifies this process. Situated on an east facing ridge right in the middle of the Green Valley, and planted in perfect Gold Ridge sandy loam soil in 1991, Emerald Ridge truly came into its own with the spectacular 2009 vintage. While the fruit has been a part of our Dutton Ranch Pinot Noir for several vintages, we added this spectacular wine to our single-vineyard offerings starting with 2009. From our chosen clonal blocks we produce 3 separate lots each year: deep, dark, chewy wine from the mixed block of Pommard and 2A; strikingly focused and precise blackberry fruit-driven wine from the 667; and perfectly structured wine with wonderful juicy black cherry fruit from the 828. For the first vineyard designated release, we blended only our 6 favorite barrels (4 828, 1 2Pom, 1 667) for our closest friends.