Mojave Hicks Vineyard Pinot Noir Santa Cruz Mountains 2019

Becky is an up-and-coming winemaker to watch! After winning a Confrérie des Chevaliers du Tastevin fellowship, Becky spent a harvest at Domaine Méo-Camuzet in Vosne-Romanée, where some of the most celebrated Chardonnay and Pinot Noir wines are made. Once back home in California, she continued her exploration of Burgundian varietals as the assistant winemaker at Schramsberg, the famous Napa Valley sparkling wine producer. She also worked in the cellar of high-end Chardonnay and Pinot producer Williams-Selyem and under Helen Turley’s tutelage at Marcassin. She joined the winemaking team at Kelly Fleming in 2011, and by 2013, her ability to make elegant and refined Cabernet earned her the title of winemaker, a position she held until 2021. Today, Mojave has her full attention, and you can taste her passion and excitement!

This Pinot Noir comes from the Hicks Vineyard in the Santa Cruz Mountains. The vineyard is about 5 miles from Monterey Bay as the crow flies, and the soils here are mostly sandy loam, which promotes exceptional drainage for the vines. These were critical during the 2019 growing season, which started with a wet winter. The heavy rainfall led to a picturesque vintage with even and steady heat during the summer and a mild, dry fall. Becky let the fruit cold-soak for 3 days before fermentation kicked off, which is why the color is such a lovely pale brick hue. The wine is expressive in aromatics, bursting with ripe red cherry and sweet baking spices. The palate is rich and round, leading to a juicy core of fresh pomegranate and black cherry that linger on the finish. Just delightful!