2017 Subject to Change ‘Cuvee 831’ Coastview Vineyard

Grape: 66% Pinot Noir + 34% Chardonnay

Region: Santa Cruz Mountains < CA

Vineyard/cellar stats: Organic, zero-input farming; both varietals picked early for freshness; the Pinot was partially destemmed, and the Chard was all whole cluster; a combo of pigeage and pumpovers for a total of 55 days on the skins before being pressed to neutral French oak for 10 months; unfined, unfiltered and untouched. No sulfur is harmed in the making of this wine - 210 cases produced / 12.5%

Winemaker: Alex Pomerantz

This wine is all about the pristine quality of the fruit, which comes from the legendary Coastview Vineyard, farmed by Father-Son duo John and Parker Allen, 2400 feet up the Santa Cruz mountains, with a view clear out to the Monterey Bay.  John and Parker farm with only a small crew and a herd of 900 sheep (instead of mowers and herbicide).   Alex and Brad are big fans of wines made of co-fermented white and red grapes, having been inspired by the legendary Burgundy producer Julien Guillot and his co-fermented Cuvée 910. They say that after drinking enough of Guillot's wine, they decided to riff on the theme and make “Pinot Noir like you've never had it before”.  And this wine certainly is a unicorn, a very delicious one, with the subtlety and depth of elegant Pinot Noir, but with an electricity that takes it to a whole new level.  This wine is ALIVE, and has a magnetic pull, drawing your lips back to the rim for another sip.  And another. Until the whole bottle is gone. It’s that good…

 Alex’s pro tip: “this wine is transcendent, so go in without expectations and be prepared to open a second bottle because it's terribly haunting and you'll need to keep the journey going.”