The 2021 Clarice Wine Company Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir was a gift in many ways. The growing season was cool – not quite as chilly as 2018, but on the cooler side of the spectrum, nonetheless. This allowed the grapes to hang until late in September with harvest occurring on September 25, 2021. Yields were very good even larger than normal. The two different sections of the vineyard – one at the top of the vineyard and one at the bottom – were picked and fermented together in something of a purposeful field blend. Sugars, acids, and flavors were all stupendous. Fermentation went smoothly. Quite simply there were no problems. That all sounds good, right?
The risk in 2021 came from complacency. 2021 followed 2020, a year which was a complete loss (I picked no grapes due to smoke issues). It would have been easy to just let the wine make itself and be done with it. But the goal at Clarice is to produce truly remarkable wines. Doing this meant not simply taking nature’s bounty, but going a bit further – bleeding off 20 percent of the juice so as to concentrate the flavors. It meant a strict selection of barrels with only 9 out of 15 barrels making the final blend. Basically, it meant doing everything possible to make certain that the 2021 Clarice Garys’ Vineyard Pinot Noir continued the legacy of its 3 predecessors.
MAGNUMS AND 750ml bottles available – very limited!
https://claricewinecompany.com/wine-products/
“Slightly deeper aromatically, with darker cherry, violet, flower, and sandalwood notes, the 2021 Pinot Noir Garys’ Vineyard hits the palate with medium to full-bodied richness, building tannins, beautiful mid-palate depth, and a great finish. It’s another rock star of a Pinot Noir from this estate I’d be thrilled to drink. This saw 75% whole clusters and will spend 10 months in two-thirds new French oak. There will be just 225 cases produced.”