Walden Wine Mil Vistas Vineyard Pinot Noir Sonoma Coast 2023

The Walden brothers, Chris and Jonathan, are two sides of the same coin, representing viticulture and viniculture, respectively. After multiple decades growing and making wine for others, the two struck out on their own, launching Walden Wine in 2021. Finding the Mil Vistas Vineyard set everything in motion, and Chris is quoted as saying, "I saw redwood trees, the soil, the ocean air…I knew this vineyard was waiting to tell its story."

In his 20 years managing top vineyards throughout Napa and Sonoma, Chris Walden has prided himself on staying hands-on with his farming, working alongside his crew to extract each vineyard's sense of place. This approach has helped him stay connected to the vines, monitoring the specific needs of each slice of terroir and those of his farm workers and colleagues. His commitment to the team has allowed Chris to foster a more positive work culture and create growth opportunities, which, in turn, inspire workers to invest in the vineyard's health and success.

Chris applies his philosophy to Mil Vistas Vineyard, ensuring sustainability extends to the land's social and financial well-being. He farms the vines using organic and regenerative techniques, with no synthetic herbicides or pesticides, and as little water as possible. He makes decisions based on his time spent amongst the vines at Mil Vistas, which lie atop steep western and eastern slopes just ten miles from the Pacific Ocean. The plantings are split between older 30-plus-year-old vines of 115, Pommard, and DRC clones and 8-year-old Mt. Eden vines. Chris coaxes the vines to highlight the dichotomy of the age groups so the nuanced, delicate berries from the older vines balance with the energetic intensity of the younger ones.

Jonathan takes these grapes and delicately applies his winemaking hand to guide the fruit toward the ultimate expression of place. His time in the cellar alongside Napa greats like Philippe Melka, Maayan Koschitzky, Sean Capiaux, and Thomas Rivers Brown honed his technical skills. At the same time, he developed a distinct style and voice. For the 2023 Pinot Noir, he gleaned character by fermenting a portion of the fruit as whole clusters with native yeast and aging the free-run juice primarily in neutral oak (only 20% new French oak). Jonathan's care in the cellar matched with Chris's tending in the vineyard comes together to showcase the purity of the vineyard, varietal, and vintage.
"The 2023 Walden Mil Vistas Pinot Noir opens with lifted aromatics of pomegranate, plum, and blood orange, interwoven with coastal herbs, rose petal, spice, forest floor, and garrigue. On the palate, a bright, acid-driven entry leads to a layered mid-palate, where a subtle stem influence lends nuance to the fine, silky mouthfeel. Tannins are present yet polished, providing structure and complexity through a seamless finish that is sustained by vivid acidity and freshness.” ~Winemaker Notes