2022 Aston Estate Pinot Noir

In 2022, our selections were made up of the three lots that make up this Estate bottling. The upper ridge of clone 777 and the heart of the clone 115 and 667 blocks stood out amongst everything we tasted that day. The wines were very Aston Estate in character, but they also featured more explosive aromatics, broader textures and greater balance. I’ve always looked for that more reductive, brooding character in the better Pinots we bottle, and this wine has a lot of that trait. There’s a seriousness to it that separates it from the Sonoma Coast wine.   As the Sonoma Coast AVA has aged, we are starting to find what each unofficial sub-AVA offers and for me, Annapolis is all about savory. Black tea, forest floor, porcini mushrooms, sweet tobacco and a darker mineral profile dominate the aromatics. There is a lot of fruit on the palate, owing to the warmth of year, as it jumps immediately into black cherry and plums. A smoky meatiness comes up to give balance along with white flowers and peppery herbs. This is a bigger style Pinot then where it landed the last few vintages, but it is a great refection of the estate in a warm vintage, held in check by mouthwatering acidity and a rugged texture.