Description

ABOUT THE PRODUCER:
Senses Wines is the dream of three childhood friends. Christopher, Max and Myles, who partnered with critically acclaimed winemaker, Thomas Rivers Brown, to produce worldclass wines from renowned vineyards owned by their families. Since founding in 2011, Senses Wines production has grown to include many coveted vineyard sites throughout northern California. The estate vineyards are located in the West Sonoma Coast and Russian River Valley, specifically just outside the town of Occidental where the three founders grew up. On the label, the second letter ‘e’ has been substituted with the number ‘3’ representing the three founders and the three wine senses of sight, scent and sip. They believe the vineyards are their greatest asset, and meticulously farm each vine so the winemaking process can be as hands-off as possible. This approach ensures complexity and finesse for each wine, vintage after vintage, and their stunning wines are testament to their dedicated passion.

THE VINTAGE:
2019 stands out as one of the more exceptional vintages in recent memory. Cooler temperatures and stable weather throughout the growing season allowed for slow maturation of flavours without any heat events spiking sugar accumulation in the berries. Although 2019 also saw the devastating Kincade fire in Sonoma County, the fruit was harvested by then, so the smoke did not affect the grapes.

ABOUT THE VINEYARD:
The grapes come from Charles and Diana Karren’s vineyard, a couple who are incredibly passionate about growing grapes. The single vineyard ‘Terra de Promissio’ translates as ‘the Land of Promise’ and it has an ideal terroir for growing Pinot Noir. Located in the Petaluma Gap subregion, the combination of the sandy loam and Adobe clay soils, the south-westerly sun exposure, hill elevation, vine density of 5×7’ spacing and the wind and fog of the Petaluma Gap, allows the grapes to have an extended hang time. This slow maturation allows the fruit to build complex aromatics, flavour concentration, ripe tannins and natural, balancing acidity. The Pinot Noir vines include 13 hectares of clones 115 and 777 which were planted in 2002 and seven hectares of clones 943, 97 and a Field Blend planted in 2012. This site is shared with Williams Selyem, Kistler, Kosta Browne, Hanzell among others. The vines are sustainably cultivated and manually harvested.

THE WINEMAKING PROCESS:
Each cluster was hand sorted by Diana Karren and her mother, prior to vinification. The Pinot Noir grapes were vinified in open top vats, and underwent whole-berry fermentation with wild, indigenous yeasts from the vineyard to fully express the terroir. Maturation lasted for 10 months in 100% French oak, 25% new, the remainder was second and third use.

OUR TASTING NOTES:
A rich, structured Pinot Noir with complex aromas of smoky red and black fruits, roasted herbs, conifer forest and exotic spice through to a palate of impeccable balance.

GRAPE VARIETY:
Pinot Noir 100%.